Subject: Struck Out on Ball Four
From: Christopher W. Thomas (creatician@poetic.com)
Host: 207-172-227-146.s19.as2.dnb.erols.com
Date: Thurs Nov 12, 1998 at 11:58AM

Today was another day for losing the ball

Every once in a while it happens on a call
But this was the fourth one actually bought
... Where the dog put it is a mystery caught ...

Between fallen leaves and long grass and debris
A thorough raking might not even make it seen ...
A search ensued, during which a baseball was found
Just lying there in the long grass, wet from the ground

... Filthy dirty, dingy, and heavy from absorbed dew
Still ... it makes up for the rubber one she did lose ...
Or, perhaps, it's my fault for not watching her close
After tossing it, then seeing her nudging it with nose

Assuming she picked it up and then dropped it elsewhere
And that I would come across it walking briskly in cold air
But that never happened, and even after the dozen loops
The ball never again materialized ... just as lost as the roots

- Tristram

(c) Christopher W. Thomas
11:45am Thursday, Nov. 12th, 1998