strike two!
the unseen umpire
calls it…screaming it from the mound
while
in tux and tails
a dead conducter reads
ancient and finely crafted
lead sheets
dripping with the dried blood
from an old comfort’s
talons
he’s orchestrating things
these days
he’s finding great amusement
in the mix of humans who have gathered
one fumbling, undecided
another extracting his research
going solo
after all….
he giggles as they fumble each ball
reprimands them for each
sour note…
falls to the ground
rolling in eternity’s tall grasses
hysterical with glee…
he’s still has a little more work to do here
now that the body
isn’t dragging him down
betraying him at every turn…
so he sticks around
a shapeshifting trickster
in a jokester’s uncommon skin
fucking with us, one and all…
FER GET ABOU DIT! screams the ump
tucking a greasy lock back under
its worn ball cap
YER OUTTA HERE! he screams to the one
he always trusted
the least…
the lights dim, the hall darkens
confused musicians carry their instruments
silently out a back alley door
some, tripping over a shattered baton
a few, certain that they heard a soft snicker
from behind the velvet curtain on the stage…
the lights flash out
above the bleachers
leaving only the dark of night’s skies
while only shadows dance
across the long-emptied field….
he stands on first base
invisible and grinning
rubbing his hands together in glee
oh baby! you all are somethin’ else!
and i can’t wait to see what’s next…
