DERRICK HERD

PD:2 MRS.LOVE

BASEBALL

BALL

(ROBERT HEEMSTRA)

That feeling when you step to plate,

Knowing it's some type of fate.

Looking at an open grass,

With three bases you need to pass.

Grasping life by the hand,

Time to take this with a grand slam!

Stepping to home,

A swing with a small groan.

I watch as the ball got plastered,

As I ran faster and faster.

Slide to second!

Drop the ball!

Steal the third!

Good call.

It's when I stare at home,

My mind fixates to a drone.

There went the "CLING",

As my legs began to sing.

Home I go,

It's the more I know.

The cheers abrupt,

But die when we know it's not enough.

BALL ANALYSIS

• THIS POEM HAS RHYME. THE RHYME IS END RHYME AND ALSO APROXIMATE

RHYME BECAUSE THEY DON’T ALL MATCH PERFECTLY.

• ASSONANCE IS ALSO USED IN THIS POEM WHEN THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES THE

BALL OFF THE BAT. THE AUTHOR USED “CLING!” TO SHOW THE SOUND OF THE

BALL OFF THE BAT.

• I CHOSE THIS POEM BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS WHILE

AT THE PLATE AND PLAYING BASEBALL. THIS POEM IS DESCRIBING THE FELINGS

AND EMOTION THROUGHOUT AN ATBAT AND WHILE ON THE BASEPATH.

THE BALLPARK BRIAN FRISCH

The bat cracks, as clean as the break

of a ripe limb from a douglas fir.

Under the lights, the arc of the ball in flight

decorates the night sky.

Shamrock green grass, freshly cut,

leaving lines as sharp as a checkerboard.

This is a lawn. Precise. It stands

as erect and proud as a four-star general saluting

his heroic men and women with a tear in his eye.

The stadium itself, attractive

as a one-hundred-year-old Cathedral in a city where the white money is

going...going...gone.

For these majestic parks are not limited to just baseball.

Grandmothers are happy here.

They become newborn children who never left their crafted rooms.

Here they can see the most perfectly painted

clear blue ceiling.

Oh, what's the score you say?

Ask grandma, she'll probably know.

But baseball is the last thing on my mind.

BALLPARK ANALYSIS

• This poem shows alliteration in the line “going…going…gone.”

• The first two lines show a metaphor comparing the crack of a bat and break of a douglas

fir.

• I chose this poem because of the detail and it went great with my topic. This poem had a

special image to it.

WHERE IM FROM(MICHAEL KUMAR)

I am from center field,

From where the rich green grass and the warm brown dirt meet.

I am from the place where champions are made, and

legends are born.

I am from the drive to succeed and the fear of failure.

I am from where players made footsteps too deep to fill,

From the same turf legends and DiMaggio and Mantle, and where The Say Hey Kid

made his famous catch.

I am from the roar of the fans and the chatter of my teammates.

I'm from the place where I feel comfortable, and I am determined to stay here.

I'm from the place where left meets right and I am ready.

I am home.

WHERE IM FROM ANALYSIS

• This poem shows imagery of the baseball field full of screaming fans.

• Also shows assonance in the “green grass” line

• I chose this poem because it pertained to the theme of baseball. It was

also a great image of a baseball atmosphere.

THE INVISIBLE STRING

RON SALISBURY

The Invisible String

Its just an invisible string

That binds

A ball and two mitts,

That binds

A boy and his Dad,

Incredibly etched,

A memory, a bond.

Its just and invisible string

In a field of dreams.

It’s Shoeless Joe,

And a man who longs

For that shared moment

That every kid needs,

That every Dad needs.

Its just an invisible string

That gives life

To a piece of horsehide,

And two gloves,

In two hands

That long to grasp, to reassure,

To confirm

A love

That lasts longer than the timelessness;

Last crack of a bat.

ANALYSIS

• ALLUSION IS USED TO GO BACK IN TIME WITH THE GAME OF BASEBALL.

• I CHOSE THIS POEM BECAUSE IT RELATES TO THE RELATIONSHIPS OF SONS AND

DADS BONDED THROUGH THE GAME AND HISTORY OF BASEBALL.

HOMAGE TO JOHNNY BENCH

CHAD WEEKS

The greatest catcher ever was

With one hand 'hind his back

Was Johnny Bench. Yep, that's the buzz.

And never did he slack.

He broke ole Yogi's home run hits.

"The Little Colonel"'s claim:

Three hundred eighty-nine and gets

The Baseball Hall of Fame.

His Cincinnati Reds they won

Four pennants in the League

And twice the Series! OK.'s son

Had baseball under siege

He had big hands and he could hold

In one hand seven balls

But more than this, he speaks, I'm told

At charities and malls;

Awards for college athletes;

He writes and sings on pitch.

While teamwork makes a job complete,

A dream made Johnny Bench.

ANALYSIS

• Rhyme is used in this poem. The last word in every other line rhymes together.

• Also approximate rhyme is used in the last stanza pitch and bench.

• I chose this poem because Johnny bench is a legend and also because he was a great

inspiration to baseball and people off the field.

LITTLE LEAGUE STRIKEOUTS AINT PRETTY

ROBERT L HARRISON

With sadness I report

about the last ball

your son bought

It was both high and low

and curved before

the final blow

It was flying fast

a white meteor

that he let pass

And so I say with pity

that this scene

was not too pretty

For even I did cry

after he let

that ball go by

ANALYSIS

• Rhyme scheme is used in this poem. Every other line rhymes like pity and pretty.

• They use a metaphor comparing the ball to a flying meteor.

• I chose this poem because everyone strikes out and its very common. There is also a lot

of detail in this poem.

DOUBLE PLAY

PAUL B. JANECZKO

The runner is

a non-swimmer in deep water,

inching from the bag

timid

returning in alarm.

The shortstop and second baseman

are schoolboys

passing secrets

behind the pitcher's back.

Moving before the pitch,

the shortstop dashes to the bag

glove up in anticipation

as runner and

peg from his partner at second

approach.

He drags the toe of his right shoe

across the bag

as the ball slaps home

and he leaps

to avoid the spikes.

Resting in air

safely above the slide

long enough to throw to first

before he tumbles to the dirt,

his eyes on the ball

the mitt

until

the umpire's confirmation of perfection.

ANALYSIS

• This poem shows allusion.

• The poem alludes to the great image of turning a double play. The quickness and

perfection of the play.

• I chose this poem because turning a double play is one of the greatest feelings in

baseball the swiftness to end a rally.

THE PITCHER

ROBERT FRANCIS

His art is eccentricity, his aim

How not to hit the mark he seems to aim at,

His passion how to avoid the obvious,

His technique how to vary the avoidance.

The others throw to be comprehended. He

Throws to be a moment misunderstood.

Yet not too much. Not errant, arrant, wild,

But every seeming aberration willed.

Not to, yet still, still to communicate

Making the batter understand too late.

ANALYSIS

• This poem has approximate rhyme.

• The last stanza willed and wild are examples of approximate rhyme.

• I chose this because a pitcher is a great key in baseball the battle between him and the

hitter is one that cant be compared.

THE PITCH OF A LIFETIME

ROBERT PETIT

His life had boiled down to this one moment

Nerves shaking but could never show it

A lifetime of practice to get to this fall day

Always saying goodbye & never getting to stay

The half dirt covered plate at his feet

As thousands waiting to leave their seat

Years of not knowing if he could ever get here

He looks up and his mind never this clear

Cheers all around fade away

Today was his day

He has but a single task

The question yet to be asked

His stance he choose to switch

And from a knee here comes the pitch

She said yes

ANALYSIS

• This poem inlcudes many couplets. The ending words match with the following.

• Feet seat are examples of the couplet in this poem.

• I chose this poem because a pitch is a wonderful thing from the fastball to the curve ball.

• This poem describes an at bat very well.

THE GAME OF BASEBALL IS PLAYED ON A FIELD

ROBERT PETIT

Spring training games were “PLAYED” before the start.

The teams are banking “ON " going all the way.

To make it through “A” long season, you’ve got to have heart.

Players, lets take the “FIELD” and play ball today.

The grass is green on the field today.

Another baseball season is under way.

“Play ball” is what the umpires will say.

We all cheer for “THE” team of our choice.

It is a favorite “GAME” throughout the nation.

The stands are composed “OF " many a resounding voice.

We give our “BASEBALL” heroes a standing ovation.

The month of April “IS” the beginning of the season.

ANALYSIS

• This poem shows rhyme. Every other line rhymes together.

• I chose this poem because is describes the game of baseball better than anything.

• Baseball is Americas pastime and should always be loved.

COMPETITIVENESS IS RED AN BLUE

IT TASTE LIKE SWEAT AND TEARS

IT SOUNDS LIKE CHEERS OF THE FANS

AND SMELLS LIKE HUSTLE

IT LOOKS LIKE A FULL TROPHY CASE

AND MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A WINNER

JUST BECAUSE IM STEPHEN

DON’T HATE ME BECAUSE IM GORGEOUS

DON’T JUDGE ME

STILL, MAKE ME PLEASED

JUST BECAUSE IM STEPHEN

IT DOESN’T MEAN I CANT LOVE

IT DOESN’T MEAN IM SINGLE

IT DOESN’T BLIND ME

JUST BECAUSE IM STEPHEN

STILL, I AM RIPPED

BUT I CANT FLEX

JUST BECAUSE IM STEPHEN

I AM A WINNER

I believe in the game

The rules

The gods

The legends

The ball

But the players are cheating and savage

I believe in honesty

I believe in swagger

I believe in strength

And I believe in the ability to pursue a dream

Baseball boys

Long flowing hair, great abs

White pants cleats on feet

Hat over head with sweat

Girls, girls everywhere

Walking on sunshine

Burns the feet and expels great heat

Blistering blisters