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

[busker]

LOVE IT - the last two lines are gorgeous!
Thanks for posting - made my day

---

PS - the local council in its wisdom has decided to build children's playgrounds and skate parks over as much green space as they could imagine. Now I love it for children to have a space to play in, but what's wrong with simply kicking a football on the grass or sticking a few wickets in the turf for an impromptu game of cricket? The birds and worms are happier with that.

[Bunx]

Love this poem, their selling off public parks in Montana so this is important topic

[Mark A Becker]

Thanks folks-

My younger brother still has the homemade box scores from the three seasons we played there.

Unfortunately, those fields now require a reservation to play on, and that sorta defeats the purpose. But, at least there are still games there. I long ago accepted the fact that we can only nudge this life in certain directions, and usually with uncertain outcomes.

[Bunx]

Love that take Mark