• The Kicker

    They picked the field on the far right side of the playground
    Even though it was closer to the street
    They picked it because it had more dust
    “I like a big finish,” said Jimmy Sawyer
    And all the kids nodded
    Everyone liked to go out in a bang
    It was a calm cool day in November
    The sun had just chased the shadows away
    It was in that last inning,
    Bases loaded
    The Grass Kickers vs. The Sons of Pitches
    Tied
    When the SOPs sent Dickie Pitts to the plate
    Dickie Pitts with his two front teeth still missing
    Had the best kickin’ leg in all PS 110
    He walked right up to that rusty porcelain plate
    And spit
    Right through his grin
    When the ball came tumbling his way
    He did those SOPs proud
    That ball must have flown straight up into heaven
    And smacked God right in the head
    Before it came soaring back down
    Eclipsing the sun as it fell back into the atmosphere
    Yes, the kids would say, it flew,
    And just for a second,
    Time slowed to the pace of a snail
    Before landing on the other side of the fence
    The kids came runnin’ home
    Richie. Marty. Pete.
    The ball squatting just beyond the fence
    Dickie stampled his foot on each plate
    Until he smashed his two feet down on home
    And in a show of good-faith
    As if to say “no hard feelin’s”
    He went to the fence
    And called to a man on the other side
    “Excuse me, sir, could you please toss our ball back?”
    That man, looked Dickie right in the eye and said,
    “Listen Son, have some respect.”
    Dickie with the dust still in his eyes
    Sucked the air between his teeth and said,
    “It’s just an All-American game of Kickball, Sir.”
    The man cradled the ball in his hands
    As if examining each red rubbery stitch
    Before tossing it back over the fence
    “Have some respect Son, our President is dead.”
    It was a calm cool day on November 22, 1963
    When Dickie Pitts kicked a ball right over the fence
    And came back to the field
    With the ball wedged beneath one arm
    And something missing