Play Ball

[Mark A Becker]

Play Ball

with two mowers and some white paint
we cleared and lined our field

but our space was soon staked out
for more houses to be built

a crew tore down our dugout
but we tried to stay dug in

we’d rearrange the stakes at night
yet we knew we wouldn’t win

the first house soon stole second
then another stood at third

but one kid’s dad was mayor
so we made our voices heard

there must have been some meetings
because another space got cleared

and though we lost our diamond
a new one soon appeared

as I drive by years later
fresh young voices fill the air

they say you can’t go home
but you can still play baseball there