Little League Practice

I HAD GONE TO LITTLE LEAGUE PRACTICE
AND THE COACH WAS HITTING FLY BALLS
TWO ASPIRING TEAM MATES AND ME
HAD OUR BACKS TO THE BRICK SCHOOL WALL

TRYING TO CATCH A HIGH FLY BALL
IT WAS SOMETHING I COULDN’T DO WELL
FIGURING OUT JUST WHERE TO STAND
WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TELL

THE COACH HIT ONE TO THE BOY NEAR ME
AND I TURNED TO WATCH HIM CATCH IT
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME A BALL CAME MY WAY
I TURNED BACK TO THE COACH WHEN IT HIT

INSTEAD OF A FLY HE HAD HIT A LINE DRIVE
IT HIT ME HARD, RIGHT ON THE JAW
DOWN IT KNOCKED ME, FLAT ON MY BACK
TO MY FACE MY FINGERS INSTANTLY CLAWED

THE COACH, CONCERNED, CAME RUNNING
BUT BY THIS TIME IT HAD BEGUN TO SWELL
A GOOSE EGG THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL
I WAS DIZZY AND I DIDN’T FEEL VERY WELL

ICE FROM A COOLER, HE MADE A WRAP
PRESSED IT AGAINST MY SWOLLEN FACE
HE PROPPED ME UP AGAINST A TREE
IT SUPPORTED ME, IT WAS A SHADY BRACE

THIS HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO
LONG BEFORE CELL PHONES WERE INVENTED
I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MY FATHER CAME
TO GO HOME, USE ICE PACKS AS INTENDED

WHILE RECUPERATING I DISCOVERED BOOKS
I DECIDED THAT SPORTS WASN’T FOR ME
I COULD READ ABOUT ALL MY SPORTS HEROES
AND NOT HAVE A GOOSE EGG FOR ALL TO SEE!

Tuesday, June 21, 2022