The Do-Or-Die Affair: A Poem (Sort Of)

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I'm not one for sentimentalism (at least when it comes to sports), but baseball has wrecked so much of my life since the playoffs started that it is impossible not to be invented in whatever happens next. I mean, I went to work with no sleep on the tank after staying up for an 18-inning-long grind that also ended up being a losing effort for my team. I also looked like an extreme patriot for a country I have never been to by taking my Canada Day jersey to literally everywhere after those Game 1 heroics. So much of my brain power has been devoted to pitching matchups and trying to explain the game to my kids, to my friends, people just kind of enough to pretend to care as I explain to them who that fat man is and why he's worth half a billion dollars, or why hitting a white-and-red piece of leather to the stands could warrant spastic celebrations akin to an electric shock.

And now that we are here, at the very edge of either a cliff so deep we may never see the light again, or glory so blinding that may not even fully process in my mind, I realize that I'm just as excited as I have ever been, the little "hamster wheels" on my mind spinning to the point of creating a fire by pure friction as I'm coming up with chants for players who will never hear them and I still try to teach every rule and strategy to my kids for a game that matters so much that words betray me even as they make a true effort to understand.

Not terribly long now, just ten or so hours of nerve-wracking wait accompanied by nothing but the sound that has been with me since the very beginning, the ceaseless ticking of something that has been both friend, enemy, master and killer on all stages of my life since it began, three-and-a-half decades ago.

And now, there's only one question left to answer: who will take the glory? Will it be my brave, scrappy Blue Jays? A team full of no-names and kids who were either sleeping on couches or playing Rookie ball not long ago and who, loyal to their ancestors, forced the world to pay attention one deed and feat at the time.

Or will it be the Dodgers? The gold-encased dragon that refuses to be stay down and bares its fangs just long enough to show you that it isn't going down so easily, no matter how spectacular the blows it tanks, showing us once more than a cornered animal is the most dangerous you can encounter, an ancient beast you can't lower your guard against.

Which of these juggernauts will make history tonight, only time will tell. But I know I will be there from the very second those exciting, terrifying words are uttered for the final time this season.

What words, you ask? A century-old battle cry: "Play Ball!".

 

[pr0xy]

Gotta admit, I’ve never seen a baseball game in my entire life, but this was a great, passionate read. I don’t want to risk jinxing your team, so I won’t say anything that might — but I hope they make you proud to be their fan, even though, from your words here, it’s clear that you already are.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Gotta admit, I’ve never seen a baseball game in my entire life, but this was a great, passionate read. I don’t want to risk jinxing your team, so I won’t say anything that might — but I hope they make you proud to be their fan, even though, from your words here, it’s clear that you already are.

Thank you! That means a lot to me ^^!

Will be blasting these until the very sound becomes sickening, then I'll listen some more:

 

[Lod 10]

EUI'm going to recite one of my poems: the most peaceful place for me is a place called RGT. The birds sing the Mario Bros. melody, and the fish sing the classic Sonic the Hedgehog theme from the Mega Drive.

 

[secreto7]

@Waffles did you wrote an story of how you became such a great fan of baseball and the Blue Jays?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

@Waffles did you wrote an story of how you became such a great fan of baseball and the Blue Jays?

No, just something that was on my mind.

I'll probably work on something else after the last pitch, too... If I survive it.