his playing years

his playing years

the reflection revealed in his old eyes of

Babe Ruth in his pinstripes,

standing at home plate in the Stadium,

the hands of my father coming together,

the cheers for a long run around the bases,

the man on his feet at ten

the younger version,

an old tiny mitt fitting like a glove

hoping the Babe might foul one into the seats

a Ruth-ian gesture

the point,

the adolescent eyes straining to see

then the ancient eyes straining to remember

ninety plus years of running his own bases

not on a ball field

but hitting home runs of his own

with career, family, 

never missing a game, like Gehrig

never missing a beat of our lives

and we all wanted to swing the way he did,

his values went long and deep,

his heart pointing toward his sunset

we still fill the empty seats

a row in the grandstand

the ashes fly

he was our Ruth and Gehrig all in one

and he is still slamming long memories

out of the park.

erin-cilberto

3/8/17

Reviews

[Tony Jordan]

Even to a Europaen with passing knowledge of baseball this speak loud and clear, of respect, of tradition and of love.
beautiful writing Jacob

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, Tony.
j.

[emmajoy]

'.. and we all wanted to swing the way he did,
his values went long and deep,
his heart pointing toward his sunset '

Magnificent words, a beautiful tribute start to finish and - beyond. Hugs across space, friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your very kind review, emma..
j.

[andrew mitchell]

a lovely layered tribute j to your father but had a layer of uncle sam of america when you mentioned pinstripes, but thats just me. lovely work.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, andrew...

j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A beautiful tribute written as with all your writing, in amazing appropriate metaphors, that describe your thoughts so clearly and flow through the readers mind in 'movie' scenes.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind words, John,
j.

[Gee]

So, so sorry for your loss Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Gee...

j.

[Jimmy Yetts]

A very masculine, All-American way of declaring deep love and abiding respect for your father.
Ruth and Gehrig were never in better company.
Heartwarming piece, Jacob!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you are kind..thank you, Jimmy.
j.

[Jon Roggie]

Jacob, you just made me cry.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Jon.
j.

[KWP]

oh wow - love that I landed on this one - I am with Einstein Noodle - this is truly one of my faves of yours - what a beautiful bunch of words, shared memories and feelings. I like this style of your writing very much - reads like a story, but layered with a little thing called love - nice Jacob, very very nice X

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your kind review, KWP...

j.

[Valentine]

Oh Jacob, I can see your dad and mine watching baseball years ago when they were still with us here. This makes me smile and yet get tears. Nice write. Valentine

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for relating, Kathie...they would have had good seats, and maybe caught one of those foul balls...

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

an all time favorite of mine sir ..i would send it to my dad if i could ..better yet read it to him ..i think your poem is masterful ...so relateable, all the scenes and aromas of the "Stadium" way back then ..and the mitt! they were flat as pancakes ...hardly of the same genus of modern nets and webbing ... so padded one has to look twice to know if the ball is in there .. i am kinda choked up in reading sir ..fine tribute to all dads .. into me library it goes!
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow, you are so kind in your review, E.
thank you much,
j.