Last Game of the Season

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BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Last Game of the Season

#1 Post by BobBradshaw » 25 Jul 2019, 20:49

v2:

Last Game of the Season


Under high clouds we wave our thunder sticks.
I recall biking to this stadium
as a kid, the air stuttering

from baseball cards pinned to my spokes.
When the team won it was like the clouds parting,
an omen of good things to come...

The game is different now.
I will never pitch in the major leagues.
No one scouts the stands

for old southpaw talents,
their hair greying like wild thistles.
I should give up following sports.

Why get excited over what
others do? My neighbor Anna
says distractions at our age, even chasing money,

are like pissing on a house in flames.
I stand up for the seventh inning stretch,
and scan the park

trying to memorize
the players lobbing balls to each other
in the outfield, beneath the bright towers...

another year, this my seventy fifth--
like my youth--a pop fly lost in the lights

v1:
Last Game of the Season


Under high clouds we wave our thunder sticks.
I remember biking to this stadium
as a kid, the air stuttering

from baseball cards pinned to my spokes.
When the team won it was like the clouds parting,
an omen of good things to come...

The game is different now.
I will never pitch in the major leagues.
No one is scouting the stands

for old southpaw talents,
their hair greying like wild thistles.
I should give up following sports.

Why should I get excited over what
others do? My neighbor Anna
says distractions at our age, even chasing money,

are like pissing on a house in flames,
a waste of time. I stand up.
It's the seventh inning stretch.

I scan the park, trying to memorize
the players lobbing balls to each other
in the outfield grass, beneath the bright towers...

another year, this my seventy fifth--
like my youth--a pop fly lost in the lights

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Last Game of the Season

#2 Post by Kenneth2816 » 26 Jul 2019, 06:45

Boom. This is an excellent poem Bob. My nom for IBPC unless you want to send it out. Everything works.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 26 Jul 2019, 07:18

Thanks, Ken... so glad to see your remarks! A nom is appreciated; this month has a number of worthy postings.... including your Sandberg poem, Eira’s piece, Billy’s poem, Meenas’ poem... just to name some off the top of my head

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Last Game of the Season

#4 Post by Kenneth2816 » 26 Jul 2019, 08:49

OK. This one is one of your best Bob. Just so you know.
I would love to see it go forward

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#5 Post by BobBradshaw » 26 Jul 2019, 08:53

Thanks, Ken....I'll think about sending it out, and let you know....thx again

meenas17
Posts: 822
Joined: 23 Mar 2014, 11:27

Re: Last Game of the Season

#6 Post by meenas17 » 26 Jul 2019, 11:54

Bob,
I love reading your poems.
They flow with ease and never too lengthy.
This one is a gem. Agree with Ken.
meenas17

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#7 Post by BobBradshaw » 28 Jul 2019, 20:13

Thank you, Ken. I would appreciate the nom.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: Last Game of the Season

#8 Post by Kenneth2816 » 28 Jul 2019, 23:53

Already done

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#9 Post by BobBradshaw » 30 Jul 2019, 09:23

Sorry, just getting back to you, Meenas. Thank you for your lovely review

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Last Game of the Season

#10 Post by Michael (MV) » 31 Jul 2019, 12:57

Hi Bob,

consider w/out the the unneeded phrase

"a waste of time."

Yes, I relate to your memoir poem. Ironically so in that I looked forward to the ball park & stadium for the music concerts, not the games. By analogy, the experience is familiar,

through to the wonderful grand slam-finale


8)

Michael (MV), my youth - my concert-going days

Always near
I hear
with the ear
in my HeArt

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#11 Post by BobBradshaw » 31 Jul 2019, 22:14

Thanks, Michael

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Last Game of the Season

#12 Post by BobBradshaw » 02 Aug 2019, 20:24

I have revised the poem some based on some wonderful suggestions sent to me by Poetema. Thx, Poetema....Michael, Poetema says that she/he hasn't been able to log on? Can you contact Poetema and help? Thanks, Michael.

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