2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
25. Baseball boys
Long flowing hair, great abs
White pants cleats on feet
Hat over head with sweat
Girls, girls everywhere
