In my youth no interest in poetry
But I loved baseball
I memorized Mighty Casey at Bat
I discovered "If" by Rudyard Kipling
And my favorite of all
"Oh the Comfort" Chalk
A poem of love and faith
Putting total trust in a friend
Sharing oneself with love
I bled when Mighty Casey stuck out
Babe Ruth was my hero
Which takes me to last night
"If" only Casey had not struck out
First inning the home team behind 2-0
Downtown came to bat two on two out
He dropped a ball between outfielders
Knocked in two runs and later scored one
It was now 4-2 and he had a double
But the Visiting team was awesome
Five runs in second inning 7-4
Downtown came to bat fourth inning singled it was 7-6
Visitors answered two runs in, bases loaded one out 9-6
A long fly by the visitors all runners moving---
But from no wheres came downtown
A diving catch got up threw runner out at first
The stands filled with twenty classmates shouting
"Downtown Donlan" When he came to bat next inning
Even the announcer was calling him "Downtown Donlan"
Next bat they walked Downtown He scored the tying run
9-9, two outs runners on first and second
It was time for Casey to come to bat
Two swings and misses and a weak foul
The kids had not read Mighty Casey
Still chanting parents picking it up
:"Downtown Donlan--downtown Donlan!"
All was not lost downtown Donlan was at bat
But the pitcher was dominating, until--
The crack of the bat and the ball screaming
to the right field wall Downtown Donlan sliding
head first to third base with a triple
Last inning a long fly to the wall
Number 12 chased in down, pop up to third
As the last strike out hit the glove
Number 12 was mobbed as he came off the field
After all the years the home team finally won 11-9
A nine year old's dream full-filled
This time Mighty Casey did not strike out!
For those who might think this fiction it is not.
Three hits in three at bats a walk. four runs batted in
and three runs scored. Outfield catch turned into a
double play and three outfield putouts. To keep him
human he dropped on fly lost in the lights.