By James Humphrey
(painting: 4th of July Aerial Fireworks by James Humphrey)
In final vision before leaving this
lifetime,
had just lobbed my old glove
to that magic edge where grass meets
wooden center field fence;
always a good sign the ballgods
will favor you.
Joyfully fell to belly,
burying nose in the flawless green heaven'
sweet dirt.
Rolled onto back,
all senses filled with the park's smells!
Went wonderfully deaf from its sounds!
It was a game again!
Other players? Fans?
Eleven men older than me in early years,
each perfect in his prime now,
wildly gestured and hollered from first base side
top dugout stair,
cheering me towards them.
Wasn't astonished. Wasn't surprised.
Knew it would be this way.
Human destiny was to be the greatest
baseball player of my time
--build the first ranch for young survivors
who had also been sadistically abused
when babies-into puberty.
All boxseats, graandstands and bleachers were
empty
except for an attractive, light brown-haired woman
perfect in her prime,
radiant in a black sheath, matching picture hat,
sitting in center of grandstand, halfway
between home and third.
When she smiled at me,
I sensed she was happy.
I sensed the woman was Norma.
I sensed we were meeting
who each other truly was
for the first time.
Without breaking stride,
and with my right forefinger and thumb,
touching the brim of my cap,
nodding slightly.
In the always dry, pleasing breezes of
permanent spring, I had accomplished the
final lesson of the rainbow arc:
I was about to become an eternally active player
on a prestigious baseball club.
Each player had, when earthbound,
a lifetime batting average higher than 320.
Now each man in his own special way
of introducing hisself, was bringing me home
at last:
ED DELAHANTLY TRIS SPEAKER
TY COBB PAUL WANER
BABE RUTH BILL TERRY
LOU GEHRIG ROGERS HORNSBY
JIMIE FOXX HONUS WAGNER
SHOELESS JOE JACKSON
If you went to the ballpark
when it was America's pastime,
and The Sultan of Swat was present,
you either knew--or soon learned,
he most surely would have the final word!
Why should this special occasion of all
to me,
be any different?
But it was!
And his words both astonished and surprised me!
Where yuh been Rookie--we been waitin' on yuh!
lifetime,
had just lobbed my old glove
to that magic edge where grass meets
wooden center field fence;
always a good sign the ballgods
will favor you.
Joyfully fell to belly,
burying nose in the flawless green heaven'
sweet dirt.
Rolled onto back,
all senses filled with the park's smells!
Went wonderfully deaf from its sounds!
It was a game again!
Other players? Fans?
Eleven men older than me in early years,
each perfect in his prime now,
wildly gestured and hollered from first base side
top dugout stair,
cheering me towards them.
Wasn't astonished. Wasn't surprised.
Knew it would be this way.
Human destiny was to be the greatest
baseball player of my time
--build the first ranch for young survivors
who had also been sadistically abused
when babies-into puberty.
All boxseats, graandstands and bleachers were
empty
except for an attractive, light brown-haired woman
perfect in her prime,
radiant in a black sheath, matching picture hat,
sitting in center of grandstand, halfway
between home and third.
When she smiled at me,
I sensed she was happy.
I sensed the woman was Norma.
I sensed we were meeting
who each other truly was
for the first time.
Without breaking stride,
and with my right forefinger and thumb,
touching the brim of my cap,
nodding slightly.
In the always dry, pleasing breezes of
permanent spring, I had accomplished the
final lesson of the rainbow arc:
I was about to become an eternally active player
on a prestigious baseball club.
Each player had, when earthbound,
a lifetime batting average higher than 320.
Now each man in his own special way
of introducing hisself, was bringing me home
at last:
ED DELAHANTLY TRIS SPEAKER
TY COBB PAUL WANER
BABE RUTH BILL TERRY
LOU GEHRIG ROGERS HORNSBY
JIMIE FOXX HONUS WAGNER
SHOELESS JOE JACKSON
If you went to the ballpark
when it was America's pastime,
and The Sultan of Swat was present,
you either knew--or soon learned,
he most surely would have the final word!
Why should this special occasion of all
to me,
be any different?
But it was!
And his words both astonished and surprised me!
Where yuh been Rookie--we been waitin' on yuh!
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