Dust, the clink of the bat, nothing distracts him
from the work that must be done.
Guarding third base with focused concentration.
he’s a different player from last year.
Last year, he first became a King midway through the season.
This year, he’s been there from the start.
Last year, his uniform was much smaller.
This year, it seems as if he’s grown three feet.
Last year, the love of the game was only part of the reason he played.
This year, it is the reason he plays.
Last year, those hot summer nights at the ballfield seemed to last forever.
This year, I know that they'll be over too soon.
Time, the blink of an eye, everything reminds me
that these summer days, his childhood, won’t last forever.
Sitting on the bleachers with focused concentration,
I realize he’ll be a different player next year.
(All photos, courtesy Aaron McGrath)
