Featured Poem: I Love Baseball

I Love Baseball

As football's fights bring winter's end

And roundball dribbles out

Spring brings beloved baseball

As good weather turns about

"Play ball!" the umpire bellows

"Cold beer!" the vendor yells

And we nosh those golden goobers

And toss their tawny shells

From bleacher steps to railings

To outfield's grassy green

Where fielders stare and focus

Intent on infield's scene

Where the batter and the pitcher

Each ponders what comes next

The un-hit strike or screaming hit

Determine who gets vexed

The bat that strikes the baseball

The ball that slaps the glove

The screaming of the happy crowd

Are baseball's sounds we love

The crisp October air takes hold,

The Fall Classic now draws near,

A hundred wins have earned this stage—

The crown of all the year.

A walk-off drive, or error

The champaign shower won,

Confetti rains on diamond soil

Beneath the setting sun.

But when, alas, the season's through

And autumn leaves turn red

The tarp blanket on green infield

Puts our game to bed

We turn thoughts back to football

And basketball's ballet

With patient sighs for winter's end

And baseball's coming day