The Home Run Ball by Mark Spencer

I took David to a baseball game,
One year ago today.
We sat out in the left field bleachers,
And watched his hero's play.

Barry stood there near the warning track,
It was Sammy at the plate.
He got a hold of a low fast ball,
Barry only had to wait.

He turned and ran toward the left field fence,
Then launched into the air.
The ball passed by just over his glove,
And my son was waiting there.

But the ball slipped through his fingers
And hit the arm of his chair.
It bounced back out onto the field,
David sat back in despair.

Barry picked up the home run ball,
Then looked up at my son.
He saw the tears of disappointment,
At missing that home run.

Then he headed in, taking the ball,
He stopped and shook Sammy's hand.
They disappeared into the dugout,
I just couldn't understand.

How could he just walk away like that?
And take that home run ball?
My son considered him a hero,
Kept his posters on his wall.

What happened next took me by surprise,
I didn't know what to say.
The two men came out to the bleachers,
It was a special day.

They introduced themselves to David,
As they signed the home run ball.
His little face lit up like sunshine,
Then my tears began to fall.

And just for that moment life was good,
And he was a normal boy.
Not a sick child in a wheel chair,
We were blinded by his joy.

He waved goodbye to his hero's
Each wiped away a tear.
It's a memory that's stayed with me,
And helped me through this year.

The leukemia took my David,
He died early last Fall.
He passed with a smile on his face.
Still holding the home run ball.

Justus Isaiah Richardson (67.127.54.207) -- Friday, September 19 2003, 01:30 pm

OK, that one got to me.
Jeez, what are you trying to do, see if I still have a heart to break? Man! That was brutal!

Terrie* (65.136.6.114) -- Friday, September 19 2003, 06:52 pm

Your son David.....
Mark ,i agree w/ Justus, this is very heart breaking....the death of a child is a sad thing for any parent to face..yours was a very touching memory (Your son David is a hero) a friends child was diagnosed w/lukemia about 2 yrs. ago and her little body has been tormented with chemo and low blood ct. cells with out a complaint and i know your son was faced w/the same tortures and it was hurtful to you to stand by and witness something so painful, my friend has really been trying to brace himself because he knows that his chids days are marked... my prayers are w/you and a hope that they find a cure for lukemia. thank you for sharing DAVID w/us...i know he is the leader among the guardian angels....you are not alone on this..we are there for you...

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All Rights Reserved. No part of this website, including all pictures and written words, may be reproduced or copied in any manner from this website without permission of the original author of the work. All poetry and pictures herein remain the sole property of the original author and/or copyright owner. All poetry on this website has been submitted by the original author of the work. To contact any author of the work please e-mail: dreamer@dreamersreality.com so the proper person may be notified.