“There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.” – Tommy Lasorda
What’s interesting to me about baseball is not the game itself but that from the boardroom to the streets, the language of baseball permeates the vernacular. Using some baseball idioms, I wrote what I think might qualify as a “found” poem.
The Bottom of the Ninth
The bottom of the ninth
and my deadline was pending
when life threw a curveball:
thoughts less hit than miss.
Every word off-base, in a
strike-out scarred draft. “Oh” moaned my editor.
Three strikes. You’re out.
Sports in general are not my thing and hence the resulting poem is certainly not one of my best. However, I did think this might be a fun prompt for many of you. This week, write a poem about any sport that engages you. What delights you about it? Perhaps for you the topic lends itself to poetic memoir? Maybe you’re a soccer mom or a baseball dad. Do you see your fave game as a metaphor for life? Or, as a poet and writer, do the idioms delight you?
Share your poem/s on theme in the comments section below or leave a link to it/them. All poems on theme are published on the first Tuesday following the current Wednesday Writing Prompt. (Please no oddly laid-out poems.)
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A homebound writer, poet, and former columnist and associate editor of a regional employment newspaper, my work has been featured widely in print and digital publications including: Ramingo’s Porch, Vita Brevis Literature, Connotation Press,The Bar None Group, Salamander Cove, I Am Not a Silent Poet, The Compass Rose and California Woman. I run The Poet by Day, an info hub for poets and writers and am the founding/managing editor of The BeZine.
“Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure.” Lucille Clifton
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It was the closest I came
to flying as I sped down
the right wing. Wind keened
across the playing field,
teased the flimsy flap
of my wrapover skirt
and whipped my hair
into a chestnut tail.
I made the school team,
used the new stick
Dad proudly bought me;
tapped, flicked or swung
the ball to the striker,
heard the clash of wood
against wood and cheered
when she scored a goal.
We paused for breath
at halftime, sucked segments
of orange and shivered,
our arms goose-pimpled.
We didn’t always win-
finished bottom of the league
one season. Bad luck,
Dad said, keep trying.
After he died I tried
harder; leaned forward,
stick poised, impatient
for the bully-off.
Then I ran with a sting
in my eyes, mud on my shins
and morning’s wind
in the small of my back.
Hello, Jamie. Sports is also not my thing, but I am having fun with you!
Sheh-Mate
I like the chess.
The figures are equal
and clear the rules
(with a little superiority
after all of the white).
And various gambits
the Queen’s and
the King’s ones
are the beauty.
And in the Sicilian
Defense
the dagger is hidden
but perks up
(it is only
the ancient game).
I am not interested in
the result
and all sorts of the ratings
(boring)
but the pulsating Insight.,
now:
Мate for the Queen!
Queen for the King!
————————-
Clarification – according to chess rules mat is given only to the king.
by 
A homebound writer, poet, and former columnist and associate editor of a regional employment newspaper, my work has been featured widely in print and digital publications including: Ramingo’s Porch, Vita Brevis Literature, Connotation Press, The Bar None Group, Salamander Cove, I Am Not a Silent Poet, The Compass Rose and California Woman. I run The Poet by Day, an info hub for poets and writers and am the founding/managing editor of The BeZine.
Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 
Hi Jamie. I wrote this today. See what you think. There is a poem “sort of” lol 😊
https://starlightandmoonbeamsdotblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/a-means-to-an-end-in-answer-to-the-poet-by-day-poetry-prompt-the-bottom-of-the-ninth-a-poem-posted-may-29-2019/
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Here’s my response to the sport prompt.
Hockey Sticks And Oranges
It was the closest I came
to flying as I sped down
the right wing. Wind keened
across the playing field,
teased the flimsy flap
of my wrapover skirt
and whipped my hair
into a chestnut tail.
I made the school team,
used the new stick
Dad proudly bought me;
tapped, flicked or swung
the ball to the striker,
heard the clash of wood
against wood and cheered
when she scored a goal.
We paused for breath
at halftime, sucked segments
of orange and shivered,
our arms goose-pimpled.
We didn’t always win-
finished bottom of the league
one season. Bad luck,
Dad said, keep trying.
After he died I tried
harder; leaned forward,
stick poised, impatient
for the bully-off.
Then I ran with a sting
in my eyes, mud on my shins
and morning’s wind
in the small of my back.
LikeLiked by 2 people
https://poeticoceans.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/in-response-to-g-jamie-dedes-the-poet-by-day-wednesday-writing-prompt-sports-is-it-cricket-
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https://poeticoceans.wordpress.com/2019/05/30/in-response-to-respected-g-jamie-dedess-wednesday-writing-prompt-sports-a-preamble/
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Lol! The one time I am not “last minute” and I commented under the wrong post. (Sigh). A sure sign of how un-sporty I am! 😂 https://iidorun.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/quiet-run-a-double-nonet/
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👏😂♥️
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Jamie here are my thoughts from memories.
https://starlightandmoonbeamsdotblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/ghost-baseball/
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Thanks Jamie
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Sports will always be second place to the arts…in my dreams!
A Novel Approach
first draft better in sports than writing
the bull pen has no ink but still
prepares for the pitch to come
contracts yield higher numbers
with travel paid to tour
with team members
effusing praise on one another
critics abound
from prepaid seats
hoping to catch
a big hit
Patrons fill bars
Pa’tron fills glasses
waiting for arrival
of that day’s stars
One for the books
when things go well
easy to know the beginning
and the end
A promise for unending
sequels
a multi-game deal
with signing bonuses
How do writers
learn to play
this kind of ball?
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poetry by choice cricket by chance
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🤣
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Hello, Jamie. Sports is also not my thing, but I am having fun with you!
Sheh-Mate
I like the chess.
The figures are equal
and clear the rules
(with a little superiority
after all of the white).
And various gambits
the Queen’s and
the King’s ones
are the beauty.
And in the Sicilian
Defense
the dagger is hidden
but perks up
(it is only
the ancient game).
I am not interested in
the result
and all sorts of the ratings
(boring)
but the pulsating Insight.,
now:
Мate for the Queen!
Queen for the King!
————————-
Clarification – according to chess rules mat is given only to the king.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jamie,
Here’s my first response:
I Watch Athletics With My Mam
I sit on her soft bed, rest an arm
on a spare pillow. Mum’s pillows
stack behind her as we watch a
tv placed where her dress mirror stood.
Chemotherapy means she does
not like reflective surfaces.
All house mirrors have been removed.
Once she cried as her hair fell out.
She cried as she gained each pound weight
because she takes the chemicals
to stop her dying, stop the spread.
Together we watch lithe bodies,
sharp muscle tone dash for the end.
Once she was ‘petite’, now Mum’s fat jowls, bingo wings slop on the bed.
Her home is spotless, a show home.
Every day we polish, scrub,
vacuum, she wants it welcoming.
She nods off half way through the
100 metres, I soft clap
the winner as she would have done.
I remember good times, and smile
at her laughter, gleam in her eyes
when she sees another winner
dash over the race finish line.
Next week she looks forward to Oakwell,
a new fan of Barnsley FC.
I never go as I don’t like
football, regret my selfishness
and time not enjoying her life.
She will sit in her hired wheelchair
yell and clap at their confidence,
vitality, their will to win.
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Moving.
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.sports day.
i do not wish to win the race nor even take part in it
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.walk.
do you like the feeling, walking ahead quickly, moving forward, loosening limbs. pushing
through wind, through water, rain slanting. shouting, counting the rams, shadowing
shepherd. wee mouse on the path, beady eyed. these are the hopeful days, weak sun
aching.
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Walking is my fave “sport” !!! Lovely.
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.hoping for a hero.
i search for champion, hoping for a hero. it gives me clothing.
the sort i will never wear. i do not do sport only walking
and swimming, nothing competitve. it is a shame
the pools are at a distance, needing time and effort. I feel younger in
water and see no reflection with out glasses. i understand
a health and nutrition app can be most helpful these days, and while
i type this i hear the gardener down the big house mowing lawns since
early morning.
now tis mid afternoon.
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Thanks Jamie x
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