V2:
Babe Ruth
It was exasperating as hell:
while I slept with my bat for good luck,
the Babe was out every night
with some Carol Lombard look-alike,
tottering into the clubhouse the next morning
sporting the same clothes as when he left.
I played baseball the right way:
hitting to the right side,
sacrificing myself to move a runner over.
Hitting the bed by curfew.
A sacrifice bunt was as foreign
to the Babe as chastity.
I worked harder in the batting cage
than anyone. I had calluses
on my hands as thick as quarters.
Singles remained my forte
while homers for Ruth came
as naturally as pissing.
I hit the outfield grass early
to work on fielding.
Babe put as much time
in improving his fielding
as he did at confessionals
on St. Patrick's Day.
How could I possibly garner
the thunderous applause of Ruth,
out of shape, his legs heavy
like a prize fighter's in the late rounds,
fouling a single memento off
into the upper seats?
V1:
Babe Ruth
It was exasperating as hell:
while I slept with my bat for good luck,
the Babe was out every night
with some Carol Lombard look-alike,
the next morning tottering
into the clubhouse in the same clothes
he had worn when he left
the day before.
I played baseball the right way:
hitting to the right side,
sacrificing myself to move a runner over.
Hitting the bed by curfew.
A sacrifice bunt was as foreign
to the Babe as chastity.
I worked harder in the batting cage
than anyone. I had calluses
on my hands as thick as quarters.
Singles remained my forte
while homers for Ruth came
as naturally as pissing.
I hit the outfield grass early
to work on fielding.
Babe put as much time
in improving his fielding
as he did at confessionals
on St. Patrick's Day.
How could I possibly garner
the thunderous applause of Ruth,
out of shape, his legs heavy
like a prize fighter's in the late rounds,
fouling a single memento off
into the upper seats?
Babe Ruth
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- Posts: 1988
- Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
- Location: Between the mountains and the sea
Re: Babe Ruth
I have a basic understanding of the sport, you do a wonderful job of outlining the envy
of a less able player, his admiration yet tinged with grief that he can't reach the standard.
of a less able player, his admiration yet tinged with grief that he can't reach the standard.
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- Posts: 2692
- Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03
Re: Babe Ruth
Thx for the insightful comments.
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- Posts: 2154
- Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57
Re: Babe Ruth
Hi Bob,
I have admired & enjoyed this sports-related, baseball bio from the 1st inning.
The Babe indirectly hailed by a foiling teammate. Praising by roasting - the low brow similes are actually glorifying - hero worshipping. Strategic they slide in as doubles & arrive home as punchlines.
And this also references real locker room banter & humor, starting with that opening stanza which puts in that era, in that American pop culture of that time- sports stars & movie starlets.
Workshop-share:
It was exasperating as hell:
while I slept with my bat for good luck,
the Babe was out every night
with some Carol Lombard look-alike,
the next morning tottering into the clubhouse
sporting the same clothes as when he left.
^^ in keeping with the form of the other 2-liners dedicated to the Babe
Michael (MV)
I have admired & enjoyed this sports-related, baseball bio from the 1st inning.
The Babe indirectly hailed by a foiling teammate. Praising by roasting - the low brow similes are actually glorifying - hero worshipping. Strategic they slide in as doubles & arrive home as punchlines.
And this also references real locker room banter & humor, starting with that opening stanza which puts in that era, in that American pop culture of that time- sports stars & movie starlets.
Workshop-share:
It was exasperating as hell:
while I slept with my bat for good luck,
the Babe was out every night
with some Carol Lombard look-alike,
the next morning tottering into the clubhouse
sporting the same clothes as when he left.
^^ in keeping with the form of the other 2-liners dedicated to the Babe
Michael (MV)
BobBradshaw wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 02:49Babe Ruth
It was exasperating as hell:
while I slept with my bat for good luck,
the Babe was out every night
with some Carol Lombard look-alike,
the next morning tottering
into the clubhouse in the same clothes
he had worn when he left
the day before.
I played baseball the right way:
hitting to the right side,
sacrificing myself to move a runner over.
Hitting the bed by curfew.
A sacrifice bunt was as foreign
to the Babe as chastity.
I worked harder in the batting cage
than anyone. I had calluses
on my hands as thick as quarters.
Singles remained my forte
while homers for Ruth came
as naturally as pissing.
I hit the outfield grass early
to work on fielding.
Babe put as much time
in improving his fielding
as he did at confessionals
on St. Patrick's Day.
How could I possibly garner
the thunderous applause of Ruth,
out of shape, his legs heavy
like a prize fighter's in the late rounds,
fouling a single memento off
into the upper seats?
-
- Posts: 2692
- Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03
Re: Babe Ruth
Thanks, Michael. I like your suggestion