Opening Day With a Little Delay
Opening Day with a Little Delay
Take me out to the ball game
Of balls and strikes - bloopers and perfect games;
Basket catches, ERA’S, country hardball;
Foul balls, the pick off, intentional walk, the right stuff;
Stealing bases, home runs – home field advantage;
Base on balls, keeping score – too close to call;
No time for rhubarbs – stay in the dugout -
“Hey, batter – batter.” Rivalries, trick plays,
Passed balls and errors, rare triple plays -
Seventh inning stretch – hit for the cycle with grand slams!
Take me out to the park
The smell of emerald green fields,
Green monsters, ivy vined brick,
Ravines and old polo fields,
Waveland’s Rooftops, keyholes, seats a mile high -
Old treasures and new parks -
Roofs that open and close -
On fields of dreams for rookies and veterans;
Dog days of summer – canines at the yard!
Kids trading baseball cards under the stands!
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack
Hot dogs with mustard, spicy Polish;
Nachos spilling over and onto my lap,
Frozen lemonade - a cold brew -
Philly cheeses steaks, Dodger (boo) dogs,
Spicy Cha Cha bowls - ice cream in a helmet;
Brats and sausage – garlic fries,
Pink cotton candy,
Popcorn and peanuts -
Shells litter the stands;
Greasy corn dogs – heart attacks on a stick!
I don’t care if I ever get back
Just let me set up a tent in the outfield
I promise I’ll be gone with the sunrise;
April through October – this is my home
Praying for rain delays to set up double headers
With the scent of hot coffee and cocoa in the morning;
TV doesn’t feel the moments of legend
When old records fall
And new heroes are crowned.
So….it’s root, root
Organs leading cheers -
Stadium classics -
Hand clapping, feet stomping,
Dancing in the stands for prizes;
Like Phanatics with Lou Seal,
Racing Presidents, Redlegs, Rally, Rosie in Orbit,
Screech, Sluggerrr, Slider, Southpaw, Stomper,
Blooper, Friar, (where’s the Chicken?), Dinger, Ace -
Mr. Met - the first
For the home team
In black and orange, in blue and white,
In red, white and blue, in navy and teal,
In green and yellow, in tan and khaki -
Grey pants for the visitors
Full uniforms at home –
White pants with grass stains -
We know every name on the roster –
Who’s that new guy on third –
Elephant ears not allowed.
If they don’t win it’s a shame
Play-offs and pennants -
Fluid league standings -
Last minute trades
Called up from the minors;
Making a run in magic numbers -
World Series in October
Starts in spring training;
September in the cellar -
Oh well, there’s always next year!
So it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out,
Booing the umpire - Get glasses blue!
Grab some pine, meat!
But that was a ball –
With a full count and bases loaded -
Where is the replay?
Not for balls and strikes!!!
Wait – hit by a pitch?
Take your base!
Oh for a seeing-eye double – no “K’s!”
At the old, ball game!
Send up a big cheer at “the show,”
For Abner Doubleday!
Alexander Cartwright!
MVP’s every year!!!
“It’s outta here!”
John Watt and I challenged each other to write a poem for Opening Day of Baseball. We both love the game of baseball. Anyone else want to join the challenge? We need several more members for the team - The Soupers! Poetry Soup!
Copyright © Sam Kauffman | Year Posted 2020
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