We strained to follow hits to the top story.
The traceries were triples, grounders strikes.
A homer had to clear the slated pitch.

Like Michael’s sword, our broomstick swung at strikes,
As the church tower’s shadow draped each pitch
And evening dimmed Good Friday’s stained-glass story.

All but the dusk was fair. Then, black as pitch,
The sky obscured our vision and His story
Of a thrust spear and jagged lightning strikes.

A final pitch, three strikes… . That game is history.

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This article originally appeared in The New Criterion, Volume 25 Number 7, on page 32
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https://newcriterion.com/issues/2007/3/stickball-at-st-mikes