Sinkers, cutters, curveballs
may tease the slugger’s eye,

his embedded compass,
his powerhouse body,

his PHD in defined power
and acute proprioception–

but beware that mischievous
missile of unreturnable pitches,

baseball’s vintage weapon
cleanup hitters fear, even hate–

yep, that old Winky-dink
makes a comeback

as KB dances, winds,
weaves its Knuckleball way

to home plate as announcer
cries out in tipsy tenor:

that pitch, my friends! A drunken
roadrunner slams catcher’s mitt!

On the mound, pitcher nods,
spits, tips his cap.