By Mark J. Mitchell
She loves the hot corner. While other girls
may fall for lefties at first, she watches
deep glove work and sky-born pop-up catches
that blossom on the left field line. Balls curve
and bounce there different. When third basemen miss
a screaming liner they fall down to cheers
and dirt. The diamond dust’s light as a kiss.
Her heart smiles for forgotten Bill Mueller,
long and laconic. And Matt Williams with his fear
of the high hard one—well, everyone knows
that too-tall stance. Then Mike Benjamin’s short stint—
when God touched his bat for fifteen straight hits.
She’ll bless every utility infielder.
She prays. Training ends. Let’s go to the show.