at the old ball game

attention attention attention

if you come to the game
late, you’ll be walking up
the ramp when they
play the national
anthem.

if you’re in the upper deck
& it’s early may in new york––
you’ll be cold if you
don’t dress for
winter.

when you gaze
towards the horizon,
you can see the old,
world’s fair unisphere
& manhattan’s visible
to the east. jets just
out of laguardia are cutting
diagonal swaths into the
ether.

if you’re not attentively
watching every play,
you’ll never know
how the pitcher walked
3 & gave up 3 runs
in the first inning.

if you give your attention
to the hot dog man,
you’ll hear the crowd roar
but miss the only met
home-run.

inning after inning
the men go mostly down
in order.

there’s no clutch hitting
as in imagined days of yore––

watch out
or you may get hit
by a foul ball.

attention attention attention