Spring Is Here

the smell of 

wet pavement

after a good rain,

gray clouds 

parting

for the first time

in days,

sunlight peeking

over treetops,

green grass

sparkling

in the morning dew,

the tail-end of

a winter chill,

your breath

hanging steadily 

in the air,

CRACK!!

...the hollow echo 

of baseballs

flying 

off wooden bats

in the late afternoon,

hardballs

slapping

leather gloves,

spikes 

crunching

the dirt,

umpires

yelling

STRIKE THREE!

fans cheering 

for their 

favorite

number nine

and booing 

the

rubber arm

on the 

mound,

spring is here,

spring is here,

I know this how,

cause

baseball's in

full

gear.