Baseball

Baseball

I can still smell the leather
the rawhide, the very strings
of crimson, crisscrossed
hear the snap of the ball
As I make the diving catch,

Everyone applauded.

A bat makes sound
as it moves through the air
and its ping shakes
a white streak into the sky
here comes the warning track.

And everyone applauded.

Watch the pitcher turn his head
his confidence wary
as I stalk further from the bag
He isn't looking. Now!
Run and dive and slide.

And everyone applauded.

But everyone isn't here
As I pick myself up
And set down my bat
And brush myself off
It's only dad.

And I'm glad he applauded.