Softball Shorthand

First you’re in the dugout,

then you’re in the hole,

next you’re on-deck,

the bat in your hand as you stand in a chalk circle

just off the base-line separating you from the field.

Finally you’re at-bat,

standing squared-up to the plate

as you stare down the pitcher.

The pitcher swings her arm in a wide circle,

lunging towards you as she snaps her wrist

as it returns level with her twisting waist.

The ball curves though the air as it rolls off her knuckles,

spinning itself close to your body,

threatening a bruise

twice its size

with blackened indents

of its seams.

You tighten your grip on the bat

as it lays in line with the middle knuckles of your fingers

and pull it tighter towards your right shoulder,

in tight with your body.

The infielders lean closer as they wonder if you’re going to

bunt,

slap,

or swing.

You throw the butt of the bat at the ball

and feel the imagined pull

on your bat as the force of your swing reaches its peak.

You hit it right on the sweet-spot,

the most momentous part of the bat.

The ball flies

a high arc,

a pop-fly

into the outfield.

The fieldsmen run

and so do you,

down the baseline

then rounding first

towards second.

Centerfield fields the ball

as it bounces off the grass,

and crow-hops

it in a frozen-rope

to short-stop

acting as cut-off,

who flicks it to the second baseman,

and you slide into second

to avoid the tag.