Baseball Poem

He approaches the plate,

ponderous,

swinging smoothly

in slow motion

knowing his choice is simple:

swing or not.

As he paws

the back line of the batter's box,

matching concentration and stare

with the pitcher,

he knows

indecision

or

hesitation

makes failure likely.

Pitcher rocks.

Batter waits.

Then, in the time it takes

a happy heart to beat,

decides.