Mariano is a humble man
In an ego crowded sport.
The greatest closer of his age-
of all time, by some reports.

He never liked the music
That played when he appeared.
None can match the saves he made
as the stadium rocked with cheers.

He wore the number forty two,
In honor of a man
Who in his day took more abuse
than most of us could stand.

When that last batter is retired
When his last pitch has been thrown
When Girardi cannot summon him
by picking up the phone.

Then next winter will seem longer
And next Spring devoid of cheer.
Mariano is retiring,
This is to be his final year.

I remember his great moments
and recall his failures too.
The later are made easy
by the fact they were so few.