Friday, February 16, 2018

World Series

They brought out the triple amputee.
We all stood at attention and applauded. 
He crossed the diamond as if freeing himself
From devices invisible to the naked eye,
In a crispy dress uniform. He stabbed the earth
With a cane, one sleeve flapping in the breeze.
The applause exploded as he jack-knifed himself
To the mound. The voice boomed again:
“Two tours in Afghanistan, Triple Amputee
Recipient of five Purple Hearts and a Navy Cross,
A true American hero,” and a name was spoken
Like one of those you hear every day.
He tossed the ball (the pitcher held his glove
At the small of his back so he wouldn’t tumble
From the mound). It plopped from his hand,
Then rolled a few feet away. The handsome
Faces of the players, heroes themselves, froze;
They stood tall, shoulders back, limbs complete. 
The announcer praised the triple amputee
For defending freedom, and for giving us
The chance to remember it, to salute his sacrifice.
But where, Iraq or Afghanistan, did he leave his limbs?
No one knew. No one but him thought it mattered
Which country of strangers had claimed them
As trophies of their own heroism, just that
He’s ours, and needs more than ever to feel it—
I’m thinking, Jesus, he gave up three of four
With a good sixty years left, barring complications,
And for what, but banks and business and good guy
Fantasies in the stands, fans on their feet, patriots 
Clapping with the same thunder as the jets overhead, 
Some checking who’s not enthusiastic enough. 
Even those who came for baseball were clapping
While the team’s colors got painted on the heavens.
After the final out, in defeat or in victory,
We fight like caged dogs to get out of the lot.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Fan of Fans

Nothing’s more sad at the end of the season
Than to see the home team go the way of leaves
Falling to earth for a long snow-packed winter
Before life returns again to my dad, fan of fans,
Who sits in his chair all summer like the captain
Of a ship hovering above the old stadium, wishing
With all his might that the boys will pull through.