To Feel Like Summer

the birds in the trees
and the ball hitting the glove
seems all the noise in the world
hunched like a scythe
in a hot concessions shack
the player's faces seem blurred
a sweltering day
seems more so as the hours pass,
making bags of candy floss
it gets everywhere;
my nails, clothes - even my head
wishes to wear a pink wig
to make matters worse
the lake of sunblock comes next
'long with the sugar and sweat
then I face the crowd
and all the stadium steps,
the weight of a thousand eyes
all at once they stand,
hands over their hearts, heads high,
for the National Anthem
a sudden silence
as the young voice bellows out,
I place my pole to the side
and then the song ends
inviting such hearty cheers
let's play ball! let's sell it all!
business catches fire,
hot like the metal railing
then I see those sticky smiles
and it's all worth it
awake and oh so alive
all this sweat makes me feel like
summer at it's peak



NOTE: Last year I had a job working at a baseball stadium. I had two jobs: the first was to make the cotton candy, the second was to walk up and down the stadium sets selling it. I made really good money off of it and I could wear all sorts of crazy outfits. I'm gonna do it again this year (baseball seasons starts up in just a week). I unfortunately won't be having a whole lot of time for the Soup being that I will have two jobs that take up a lot of my time.

P.S. If you're wondering why there's no capitalization in this poem the reason for it is simply because it's a Japanese form of poetry. I feel compelled to not capitalize, (perhaps because in their language capitalization isn't even a thing?)...

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013



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Date: 4/14/2020 9:35:00 AM
It is a very nice poem! Wow!
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Date: 6/12/2013 9:44:00 AM
Wow, sounds like a cool job! I would LOVE to get to wear cool outfits and make fun of people in my head who go nuts during the game! :D Haha, jk, jk! So sad you won't be on the Soup as much but now maybe (FINALLY) I can get a chance to read your older poems! ;)
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/12/2013 11:14:00 PM
Definitely get your share of nuts at the game! As long as they have a sweet tooth and cash it doesn't bother me, however! He he he... as soon as b-ball games start I'll be too zonked for reading, sad to say... I can finally give you a break! :D
Date: 6/9/2013 5:07:00 PM
i was able to picture this so clearly - you've done a masterful job of evoking summertime. i'd love to see you walking up and down selling that pink concoction (do you eat it?) ~ anyway, hope you do have time to write a poem here and there - i enjoy your work!
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:27:00 AM
Yes I do eat it (don't tell anyone but I eat it when I'm in the back making it... Shhh!). When you're surrounded by the stuff for hours and hours it's difficult not to indulge every once in awhile! I'll try to stop by as much as I can!
Date: 6/9/2013 4:01:00 PM
oh my, I did not even realize I was reading Choka. you did fantastic with the form, making me think it was free verse!! I have used capitalization when I did this form. Hmmm, I wonder if I was doing it wrong. Anyway, love your poem and your enthusiasm for America's number one pastime. AT least in my mind it remains so!
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:26:00 AM
I wouldn't worry about the capitalization or not... I don't believe there's really a right way OR a wrong way at this point. Choka is so so old you can kind of make your own rules for it (I just like the look of no capitalization, personally)... happy you enjoyed!
Date: 6/9/2013 3:58:00 PM
I had cotton candy for the first time in twenty years just a few weeks ago. Yes it did make me smile as did your poem.
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:25:00 AM
Hope your smile was sticky... does that sound weird? Cotton candy is after all very sticky... I should know! Lol...
Date: 6/9/2013 3:10:00 PM
I love this poem. Brings back memories. Baseball is the only sport I enjoy watching and I spent many summer days in stadiums.
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:24:00 AM
That's fun! I don't enjoy the sport myself, but I have a lot of respect for how family oriented it is, and just the shear amount of history behind it.
Date: 6/9/2013 1:17:00 PM
I had to read up on what a choka is. You've done a marvelous job with a very complex form. We'll miss you this summer. Write when you have a chance... Jack
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:23:00 AM
I'll try to get on as much as I can, but working 6-7 hours in the heat for sure wears you out!
Date: 6/9/2013 12:41:00 PM
Good 'Job Description' Tim, I'm almost tempted but I hate canyfloss lol. Take care, Richard
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:22:00 AM
Yeah, most adults (and even some kids) hate the stuff. But I just hope there's enough people that like it to make my job worthwhile. After all the payment is entirely commission (not hourly).
Date: 6/9/2013 10:36:00 AM
We use to capitalize but it is not compulsory. Poetry is free expression and here I find much of it. The composition is close to free verses
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:20:00 AM
Appreciate the insightful comment... yes Choka is reminiscent to free-verse for me. At least that's how I wrote it... it's fun to experiment.
Date: 6/9/2013 9:04:00 AM
I agree with Shadow's comment,splendid Tim.
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:18:00 AM
Thanks for stopping by once again, Mustapha.
Date: 6/9/2013 4:53:00 AM
Tim you took me there splendid imagery. Superlative poem Shadow
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Timothy Hicks
Date: 6/10/2013 12:00:00 AM
Thanks Shadow... much appreciated :)
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