Poem

Left Field

The game of softball is a lot of fun
And our big game had just begun
But as I stood all alone in left field
I figured my team position was sealed
Watching and keeping score was okay
But mostly I had that strong urge to play.

Playing left field on the Shamrock team
Was part of my life, a come-true dream
Keeping stats for the club was also fine
I loved working numbers in my spare time
In left I watched all the Bras d'Or batters
Most of their hitters really didn't matter.

But one player could hit the ball a mile
Though I didn't believe that for a while
Joe swung his bat like it was a toothpick
And Kevin and I dashed for that ball quick
As it came off his bat with a mighty crack
I was certain I could get far enough back.

But I found in a hurry the grass was gone
It was replaced by bushes 12 inches long
Which didn't lessen the flight of the ball
But caused us fielders to stumble and fall
And the game wore on and there once again
Was that great hitter with a message to send.

And Kevin and I played deeper than before
We were fooled once but we figured no more
At the crack of the bat, we converged as one
Then slowed to a dead halt as if shot by a gun
I removed my hat and then shook my head
"I have never seen anything like that," I said.

The ball finally came down on solid ground
Just missed a house but didn't slow down
When I threw the ball in, the bases were bare
And I have seen great hitters, at least my share
Thinking of good teams, the Shamrocks were one
But no one I know can hit like that son of a gun.

Written by Harvey A. Bond
June 4, 2007