Opening Day

Banners swayed to the shimmy, of sprouting springtime rays As lime lines hugged emerald fields, on America’s favorite day Youthful faces peaked above leather gloves, of inherited family fun Sheets of sunshine spilled over ivy walls, of towering home runs Children cheered the names of heroes, that shadows had crept behind As old men dawned the numbers of legends, still playing in their mind Cracker Jacks crunched as hungry eyes, devoured the diamond’s glare The words “Play Ball!” echoed with the luster, of a rekindled love affair One crack of the bat, broke a winter long season of seamless strife As a scorched line drive, was driven into the hope of every fan’s life A single was stretched into a double, beneath the roar of the crowd Players dusted off pennant dreams, that slid between the clouds Opening Day had come and gone, fly balls faded deep into night But the Boys of Summer will play forever, in memories of delight