A broken soul, a lost child
Found a place to belong.
With 8 other broken pieces,
Together they were one.
At 6 yrs old we gathered
We didn’t know the names
But one of my clearest memories
Was playing that first game.
I knocked the ball deep right centre
And headed for first base.
They told me to keep going
So I picked up the pace.
I could hear the cheering
as I rounded second base.
I then passed My teammate
Dragging her as I raced.
Crossing third it happened
The Ump declared me out
I remember the anger
And the words that I did shout
The ball is no where near us
How can I be out ?
I hit the ball the farthest
There wasn’t any doubt!
The problem is, No passing!
You should have slowed your pace.
And let your teammate go first,
before, you crossed the base.
He was the first ump I yelled at,
The first to boot me from a game.
There were many after,
But it wasn’t quite the same.
His face turned red in anger,
But my coach gave me a wink.
It seems he took exception,
To me calling him a dink.
From that moment forward,
Our team began to form.
The beginnings of the framework,
The calm to all my storms.
The lessons that life taught us,
In those 4 days a week.
Whether the others knew it,
They were the solace I did seek.
The nicknames we garnered,
Are like a secret code.
Of all the times we gathered,
Just Off Foritana Road.
Diamond fours my favourite,
Although we played them all.
Something about that corner,
And how far we could hit the ball.
Ten plus years as teammates,
We gained and lost a few.
But those that stuck together,
Were bonded strong like glue.
We were a band of outcasts,
That found a way to fit.
We won many games,
And didn’t take any shit.
Riding to our games,
In the back of the pick up truck.
Cruising through the city,
Tossing pennies, pressing our luck.
There were no parents watching,
Or caring what we did.
For we lived in a time,
You trusted others with your kids.
The lessons that life taught us,
Or we learned the hard way.
Are what laid the ground work,
To the person I am today.
We trusted in our teammates,
And listened to our coach.
He laid down all the wisdom,
He had the right approach.
I am for ever grateful,
For they saved my life.
Giving me stability,
In a world full of strife.
The walk down memory lane,
Seems like happen stance.
Of intermingled childhood,
Of those who took the chance.
It’s really long past credit,
For the foundation that was laid.
The teaching seemed so simple,
We just thought we played.
BjM 011821
