The two most dominant baseball pitchers of their eras
On the mound, neither was cute or clever
Each reared back and fired
No matter if they were dead-tired
Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan
Most batters gave up even tryin’
The great Yogi Berra once said
I understand how Koufax won 25 games last year”
But how he lost five games just isn’t clear”
Koufax deemed Ryan’s lack of pinpoint control his secret weapon
He labeled Ryan a wild bombardier
Who won games because his wayward 100 mph pitches instilled fear
More baseball teams will play today,
The season in full swing.
For fans who’ve waited months, there is
Much joy that this will bring.
A friend who read my prior poem,
Comparing life to sport,
Responded with an observation
That I’d cut life short.
For even if we find ourselves,
In years, close to the end,
So many other factors may
Our time on earth extend.
Since there are extra innings played
In certain baseball games,
The bottom of the ninth might not
Be all that it proclaims.
So thank you, Ira, for that note -
We may not be in clover,
But quoting Yogi Berra,
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!”
“Doing the little things can make a big difference.”-Yogi Berra
**************************************************************
A Tipping Balance
Dipped down the depth of a ditch by vile men
And shattered by the heartless hands of fate
I swayed with hope at the tip of one end,
At other, dark despair drowning me straight.
It was a tough tug of war with despair
Oft driving me to doors of depression
And hope at times lifting me up from scare
Of sinking in stormy seas of tension.
In time the flame of faith in the divine
Doled out a tipping balance towards hope
That did in my life steer some streaks of shine
And altered the contours of my life`s scope.
Now with hope and the flame of faith aligned
The tipping balance rests with the divine
“Politics is a contact sport” —Steve Chabot
It ain't over 'till it's over —Yogi Berra
Loug And Doug
Pleasant gentlemen both, broad shouldered and tall
Good sports who respect the umpire's call
Playing the game with pride and joy
Sincerely humble, never coy
Staunch New Yorkers with their eyes on the ball
Yogi Berra, the Greatest Sage
Of Major League Baseball's Golden Age
Yogi said, "The future ain't what it used to be."
'Cos when Berra died ~
~ They broke the mold and buried the key
___________________________________________________
A few more 'Yogi-isms' to marvel at:
. When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
. I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
. No matter where you go, there you are.
"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours."
Yogi Berra
I read it and I laughed, and each time I laughed, recognizing it for its humor.
Why would we care who or whether anyone comes to our funeral?
Unless we throw it for ourselves ahead of time.
Which I always thought was a better idea anyway
Especially if we have a disease like bone cancer,
and we know we are dying.
All of our friends could collect at the pub or the church
And say good things about us
To me this is the only reason anyone should actually to a funeral.
When the guest of honor is gone no one knows you anyway
Of course if you are from a small town it is a social gathering
Four funerals a week would not be too many for those people
It beats watching people from their porch swings
World Series, back in '56,
Against the Brooklyn Dodgers,
Will always be remembered
And not just by some old codgers.
For the Yankee pitcher did what none
Had ever done before
Or since - a perfect game,
With 2 to zip the final score.
Don Larsen was that pitcher
And, at 90, he just died.
His feat's not been repeated
Though some aces surely tried.
The ending, made immortal
In an image that still charms,
Shows the catcher, Yogi Berra,
Leaping into Larsen's arms.
I hope that record always stands,
Indelible in baseball lore -
Perfection in a Series game;
What fan could wish for any more?
Yogi once said, “he hits from both sides of the plate
He’s amphibious!” that's true genius, no debate
Many great quotes
Came out of his throat
“so I’m ugly, I never saw anyone hit with his face”
Did Discover That Trump Is Diabolic
We did discover Trump was diabolic;
Symbolic of problem that is Systolic;
Does need some stroll,
Through weight control;
Way above head becoming psychotic.
Jim Horn
Fear What We Hear from Trump
What we hear from Trump always fear;
Never can make things perfectly clear;
Pay ransom,
For enthusiasm;
Give a kick in the rear then disappear.
Jim Horn
Facts that you may have forgot,
Even if cold or some times hot;
Not sure,
Of cure;
So go ahead and give it a shot.
Wife called me a great back scratcher;
Yogi Berra had been a great catcher;
Need prime minister like Margaret Thatcher;
In rye they needed a catcher and thrasher;
Who was the best party crasher?
How many ever had a good smasher;
On did you learn to be latcher;
Of tires can possibly become a patcher;
On Saturday Night Live ever saw a Trump enactor;
Made people mad who became a hater;
Like Patriots many records shatter.
Be tight end who knows which way to scatter.
Have you ever heard feet go pitter pater.
Can you think of any or many or not any at all?
Jim Horn
Yogi once said, “he hits from both sides of the plate
he’s amphibious!” that's a true genius, no debate
Many great quotes
Came out of his throat
“so I’m ugly, I never saw anyone hit with his face”
Yogi Bear was named after this famous New York Yankee
Twas Yogi Berra, hearing him speak you never be cranky
A real fun loving soul
With a heart of pure gold
His goofy wit had his teammates forever needing a hanky
© Jack Ellison 2015
As we look back through History
Records will attest
Some famous quotes by famous folks
But I’ll tell you whose are best.
He’s a very famous player
From Baseballs Hall of Fame
Everybody knows him
Yogi Berra is his name.
His quotes - and there are many
Are really quite profound
And are used so very often
By baseball fans around.
When he spoke his “words of wisdom”
Humor was not the intent
Yogi said just what he thought
And knew exactly what he meant!
To give you some idea
Of quotes that Yogi spoke
I’ll tell you just a few of them
Remember - they're not jokes!
“You can observe a lot by watching”
Is one that comes to mind
“We made too many wrong mistakes”
Is another that I find.
“You look real cool” said a Mayors wife
When she saw Yogi’s brand new suit.
“You don’t look so hot yourself”
He replied looking quite astute.
"I didn't really say everything I said"
"Never answer an anonymous letter"
"It ain't over till it's over"
Good examples and they don't get any better.
Those are things that Yogi said
He has his own mystique.
Although there's other famous quotes
His are quite unique.
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.