Mr. Met By Salvatore Goldblatt

       Patrick Flickr

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Mr. Met

ever since i was a boy
there’s been something that can always bring my father joy
the dugouts the diamond the field of dreams
New York’s (second) baseball team.
with the blue and orange NY logo on his cap
the thud of the mitts the crack of the bat
i could bring up the Mets and we’ll talk all day
Dad, is my sister going to be ok?
from Seaver to Strawberry, Hernandez and Wright
Gooden Piazza & Kranepool made his eyes bright
2 world series titles and many more in the cellar
Dad, when is my sister going to get better?
on the subway we would go to games
sleeping on his shoulder on the 7 train
games on the radio for long commutes home
or night games spent in front of the television, alone
most nights they’d lose, more often than not
balls hit over their fence,
rarely ever caught
but still we’d faithfully watch, every other day
Dad, when will that lump they found go away?
as I got older our games together got fewer
working overtime, nights at the computer
we’d watch a few innings or catch sportscenter the day after
but that didn’t mean that the outcomes no longer mattered
when i’d see him collapse in his chair after a long day out
i’d feel like there was nothing we could possibly talk about
Then i’d ask about ERAs rain delays stolen base numbers
pop flies RBIs or who’s hitting .300
it made him happy- to show him I care
and it reminded me our bond was always there
Dad, is she really going to cut off all her hair?
i’ll never forget giving him his 1969 yearbook shortly after we heard the news
the memories returned and gone were the blues
and for that moment he was a kid looking at his heroes again
for that moment we were back in the stands
His Mets were in the playoffs with a runner on first
Praying for the best but prepared for the worst
and the pitcher from Los Angeles hung one over the plate
Dad, I know my sister’s going to be ok

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Salvatore Goldblatt is 20 years old and lives in Los Angeles, California. After a failed career as a soundcloud rapper, he turned to poetry for catharsis, self expression, and an outlet for his creative energy. He attends an unnamed liberal arts college, where he majors in english and hosts a very successful hip hop/ love advice show on campus radio.

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