Ice Skates and Baseball

[2011]


You tell me that you love me

You swear that you can change

You’re sorry, oh so sorry

But to me it’s all the same

The ice on which you’re walking

Was thinned not long ago

Now any sudden movement

Will find you far below

This love is not a game, my friend

It’s not three strikes, you’re out

You seem to think that staying in play

Is what this is all about

Yet all you do is swing and miss

Terrible swings, at that

In my game of ball, there’s no strikes at all

Yet still – here you are – up at bat.

I swear I must be stupid

To let you play my field

I guess it’s cuz I’m on the side

Holding up my shield

For fear that you may hit me

With a foul ball so sound

That I’ll be knocked down to the ground

And you’ll be watching the mound

You’ve swung and swung and swung again

And more times than I know

You’ve swung so hard I’ve felt the wind

I even stood to go

The ref has let you stay in play

Though why I’ve not a clue

I wish that I could leave the game

But I can’t take my eyes off of you

For now I’ll sit and watch you

Though the bat’s no longer yours

And hope to God you’ll cease your swings

No matter what the score

I’ll pry that bat straight from your hands

And give you mine to hold

Though after feeling all those swings

Don’t be surprised they’re cold

And cold they’ll stay for quite a while

In fact, it takes some time

Until the ice is thicker than thick

And skating, your hand will warm mine.