The Error Dream
By Mark J. Mitchell
You’re watching a minor league game
on an unmanicured ball field.
The players are so fast and so young,
A routine ground ball slides past
the shortstop’s too-high glove.
So what. There’s a runner on first.
E-6, you note. It’s just the top of the first.
There’s a lot of baseball to play, the game’s
just underway. The pitcher snaps his glove
throws his new sinker. Grounder to the outfield.
Both runners safe. It had eyes, got past
everyone. Two runners on, day’s still young.
You watch grass. You watch fast young
men stand still. Snap throw down to first.
Pointless. No one moves. This holy past-
time keeps its own pace. The game’s
frozen. Then the pitch. Pop-up. Infield
fly that drops (e-4). There’s a hole in a glove.
You want something to drink. Shift your glove
to your knee. No fouls will find you. Young
men and women will grab them. The sloppy field’s
deep green. A line drive scorches the first
baseman’s glove. Should’ve been two (e-3). Game’s
falling apart fast. And now a passed
ball (e-2) brings the first run in. a throw past
second gets missed. Another run (e-4). Gloves
off. Time called. Conference in midfield.
You move your hand, remember being so young
you could have a beer. And that first game.
Dodger Stadium. Now that was a field.
Sharp ground ball. Shortstop fields
it, fires home. Catcher misses (e-6) gets past
the backstop (e-2). Runner scores from first.
Four runs in. No outs. Players slap their gloves
on strong thighs. They try out their young
curses. Take their places on the field.
Fly ball falls in right field (e-9). Rolls past
everyone. The field’s rough, Gloves
fly. You’re not young. No beer. Top of the first.
Mark J. Mitchell has worked in hospital kitchens, fast food, retail wine and spirits, conventions, tourism, and warehouses. He has also been a working poet for almost 50 years. His latest novel, A Book of Lost Songs, was just published by Histria Books.
An award-winning poet, he’s the author of five full-length poetry collections, and six chapbooks. His latest collection is Something To Be from Pski’s Porch Publishing.
He is fond of baseball, Louis Aragon, Miles Davis, Kafka, Dante, and his wife, activist Joan Juster. He lives in San Francisco, where he makes his marginal living pointing out pretty things.
