The Body's Heated Speech  
a n    o n l i n e    c h a p b o o k    b y    b r i a n    d e a n    p o w e r s


 

Wild sky

blows into the batter's box,
chops the hardball downward

so it bounces off the plate —
slam into his cheekbone.

Whirling from the hit,
he kicks up loose dirt,

flings his helmet
hail-hard into the backstop.

The welt swells and darkens,
over-clouds

the set and certain baselines,
the pattern-mowed turf,

cares nothing
for what I think is fair or foul.

I am drenched
in all the rain's wet questions.

Copyright 1998 by Brian Powers


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