|
Post by maranda on Jan 20, 2018 22:58:09 GMT
Making It Home
The image of the neighbor’s heads shame-shaking as the police documented another of our family disputes disappears somewhere in the loud crack of my softball bat. Those same neighbors clapping as I moved in a blur to 2nd base— catcher’s eyes burning a dirty look through the infield.
My big lead and slow return drawing an oohh from the crowd. Somewhere in the whiz of the laces and the smell of chalk, the way they note how I look at their daughters disappears—my hands curling over 3rd base.
On a bunt, I wait halfway down the line between 3rd and home in that slow motion space where the pitcher stares at me but throws to first. In this moment even I forget about
my gold digging grandmother. My wild child aunt. My 19 year-old mother giving birth to a mixed baby. My stepfather that’s only 13 years older than me. That they suspect I’m a lesbian, and that outside of this chain link I am a stain on the town— my family, imposters living in my grandfather’s house, a man we can’t live up to. I forget all of this and decide to win it for the town, for us.
A single is still my go to, it gives me the chance to reinvent myself every 60 feet.
|
|
|
Post by laurenjacquish on Jan 23, 2018 4:24:41 GMT
oh wow do I relate to this! The image of the neighbor’s heads shame-shaking as the police documented another of our family disputes disappears somewhere
shame-shaking! awesome
The last stanza is fantastic. This poem integrates your draw to sports so well. I love it. Nice work!
|
|
|
Post by chello on Jan 23, 2018 9:22:16 GMT
i agree Lauren, no doubt Maranda's happy place on that baseball diamond! and i really love how she brings the whole history of herself and where she stands because it let's us see just how and why baseball is so important on more then one level.
|
|
|
Post by Kate Burnham on Jan 25, 2018 0:12:53 GMT
I think this poem is clean. There are a couple places I would hyphenate--"go to," and "wild child." You make sports sound seductive, enthralling.
|
|