softball batter at home plate
eyes fall on her tattered cleats
hot knives of pressure in her tummy
her dreams fall to her feet

ball barrels in at 60 an hour
their eyes sincerely plead
projecting spite or broken dreams
onto this screen they bleed

ball just within her sight
she swings with all the weight
that has fallen into her small lap
one second free is infinity

ball just behind left field
and the audience cheers
for the girl stealing home
and running from her fears