Previously published in the Winter 2017 edit of Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine
Pregame:
The waning amber sun
torches the sky above the Bronx.
A fire burns below;
sweltering bombs of white flame
engulf the city,
igniting a feverish blaze.
Not a drop of rain in sight.
Inning 1
The white flames scorch
the rafters of the city’s biggest cathedral and
embers nip at the feet of worshippers.
They stand,
their voices united in a throbbing hymn
for their savior, cloaked in white.
Lines of ash stain his robe.
Inning 3
Magic flows from his hands
as his every move
breathes life into the shadows.
The flames cannot touch him.
He’s invincible to their sting.
The cries grow louder.
He’s an inferno against the night sky.
Inning 9
A wild fire rages eating away at the cathedral.
The crowd of worshippers choke on the thick grey smoke.
Their breaths are short.
The savior rises again and white flames flicker around him
as the final sphere of platinum hurtles through the cloud of ash.
A single dewy crystal falls from his eyes.
Rain at last.