14 Coursing!
Reflection one,
Gematria is revealing,
14 is “Dai”, enough, done?
Tzoros are healing,
Rav C. Shumulevitz wrote “Con”,
Or “With” feeling “Busha”
For your missed mission,
Tzoros have done annealing,
Are no longer needed? Redundant?
14 also is “Zahav” or Gold,
Precious as a watershed?
Wisdom from Tzoros’ toll?
Speaking, thus the rock bled?
Small steps, downsize the goal,
Reframe anguished cries instead,
Wishful thinking? Fatigue taking hold?
Mussar to the head,
And to the heart “B’HisPaalus” bold,
7th inning stretch? Bullpen retread,
Journey & Destination are one fold!
In a bullpen of violence
—throw the first pitch
(Dreamsleep: May, 2022)
Imagine for a second
that the entire Afghanistan affair
were a baseball game between two archrivals.
The United States Rainbow Eagles and the Taliban Death Stars
The Eagles start the game with their ace pitcher
who is pitching a no-hitter for 8 2/3 innings.
But as it were, he blows his arm out and can't finish the game.
Their coach, Joe "the sniffer" Biden (a Likeable but well past his prime sort of fellow)
despite having a great relief pitcher in the bullpen
decides to go with an untested rookie
to close out the one-sided game.
To nobody's surprise (but Coach Sniffer), the Taliban Death Stars rally
getting hit after hit and run after run
and close the gap rapidly.
Much to everyone's amazement
Coach Sniffer sticks with the rattled rookie
and the Taliban Death Stars surge
ahead for a stunning victory.
After the game, Coach Sniffer bleats "c'mon man!" to no one in particular...
Then dips his silver head and takes his battered team out for a consolation ice cream cone.
With plenty of crushed nuts to go around.
again, big Ben,
Airmen, and then,
wise men
John Glenn
transenne
flagmen
gunmen, pitchmen
Turkmen oilmen
lawmen, brood den
unpen, bullpen
6/27/19
written by James Edward Lee Sr. 2018©
Written for project North Omaha Writer’s Group assignment 2019©
Copyright © James Edward Lee Sr. | Year Posted 2019
A malady of the mind
Dominates the will
As the surging river
Overruns the mill
Omnipotent craving
The bullpen cannot hold
A temptation unremitting
Annulling principle
No affection or reason
Or threat of penalty
Can possibly deter - or -
Potentiate the will
All in the Game
a call to the
bullpen by time
warner
tie your cleats by
florsheim
everything in
moderation by red
label vodka
plan ahead by forest
lawn
and beneath the
glittering
twittering
insta- scat game
show reverie
an absolutely
electrifying,
stupefying timeless
wonder
a baseball game
walk off win
dodgers 1 padres 0
The game of baseball can sometimes be rough.
Teams often play competition that can be too tough.
Often, even a grand slam home run is not enough.
Last night, our team managed to tie the game.
However, the other guys scored a run in an extra frame.
We wound up losing the game in the tenth inning; what a shame!
That is what happens with an ineffective bullpen.
The boys will just have to get together tonight and start again.
When the home team has a five to two lead,
a dependable bullpen is what they need.
In the ninth inning, they want three outs more.
A relief pitcher has to shut the door.
Losing the lead for the team is crappy.
The hometown crowd will leave unhappy.
Such an incident happened the other night.
The events that transpired were a bizarre fright.
The “closer” was expected to deliver from harm.
However, he incurred spasms with his arm.
Unavailable, other pitchers took the mound.
Not one competent pitcher could be found.
The bases became loaded before we knew it.
All the runners scored, and the home team blew it.
The fans were sitting there dumbfounded and staid.
Six runs crossed home plate before the final out was made.
Therefore, the home team lost, and that was history.
Unfortunately this season, it has happened too frequently.
At the ballpark in a sequestered location
are baseball pitchers waiting in isolation.
They ready themselves for a bad situation.
When starting pitchers falter, they are called upon.
The call goes to the bullpen, and they toss the ball.
The fans can see them “warming up” behind a wall.
If their teams are in danger of losing the lead,
the managers summon them during time of need.
If the pitcher on the mound’s outcome is in doubt,
relievers take their places to seek the third out.
Left or right-handed, they cannot break when bending.
With each “save”, the contests have a happy ending.
Ever since the game of baseball had begun,
nothing excites the fans like a walk-off home run.
In the ninth inning with a tie score,
hit a home run and you don’t have to play anymore.
Perhaps the bullpen did not save the game.
Having a tie score after the ninth is a shame.
This is a common thing that is hardly a quirk.
Extra innings to play means additional work.
If a home team player homers for the local crowd,
the fans with elation will cheer quite loud.
Inning after inning without runs brings frustration.
However, the home team scoring brings jubilation.
To be the team’s latest hero
is the greatest joy any player will ever know.
Oh, Babe
Pitched for the price of infamy’s name
Springtime sold
For the tempest of a bambino’s bane
Oh, Babe
Stadium-made gregarious grin
Pinstripe promises
Playing for shoddy orphaned kids
Oh, Babe
Squeezing pine tar calloused veins
Slugging sunshine
Into brokenhearted pennant panes
Oh, Babe
Champagne on championship ice
Swinging splendor
Diamond dames batting bullpen eyes
Oh, Babe
Sultan of summer-simmering swat
Brawny blasts
Feasting on Yankee dugout brauts
Oh, Babe
Slumped over metastasized mic
Scratchy soliloquy
Imbued on replayed records of life
Oh, Babe
Pointing to ostentatious October sky
Homerun heaven
Where George Herman Ruth resides
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