Student Publishing Program ::

Joshua L.

One Moment, One Choice

He walks up to the plate,
So confident, so cocky.
He thinks he’ll hit a homerun.
I disagree.

I stare in for the signs.
What will I throw?
My catcher wants a fastball,
But I say no.

A curve it is,
The perfect pitch:
So clever, so unexpected.
Surely I have him fooled.

I bring my hands together,
And stare at his eyes.
My glare tells him
I know something he doesn’t.

For that brief moment,
Before I throw the pitch,
All is quiet.
I am surrounded by silence.

I am focused on the catcher’s mitt
Yet distracted by the crowd.
I am confident that this will work
Yet scared if it doesn’t.

I go into my windup,
There is no looking back.
I made my decision,
Now it is up to him.

The ball rolls off my fingers,
It glides through the air.
Spinning so rapidly,
It begins to curve.

Down it goes,
Sharply and quickly.
It looks so perfect.
I pray that this works.

I have left it in his hands;
He controls our fate.
Who will prevail?
Oh I hope it is me.

In a split second he reacts,
He decides what to do.
The bat is in motion,
Ready to strike.

My heart is pumping.
Has he second guessed me?
Or have I fooled him?
Let us wait and see…

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