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Late August

by Mark Jackley

last days
of summer
like loose change

the hum of
cars approaching
climbs our warm wet skin

ballgame on the radio,
the moon
a pink dime rises

cantaloupe
on tongue, my heart a pop-up,
babe, you got it

First published (in slightly longer form) in Pinyon Review, Spring 2020.

Mark Jackley’s poems have appeared in Fifth Wednesday, Sugar House Review, Tampa Review, Frogpond, Cottonwood and other journals. Born into a Red Sox family, he fell in love with baseball as a third-grader in 1967, a season ending in the first of many heartbreaks.

 

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MLB All-Gone-Fishin’ Team

by Jim Siergey

1B   Rod Carew
2B   Neal Finn
SS   Bobby Scales
3B   Craig NETtles, Wade Boggs

OF   Jimmy Reel, Simon Pond, Al SpANGLER, Jimmy PIERsall, Mickey Rivers, Drew Waters

C    Steve Lake

DH   Seth Beer

LHP   Doug Creek
RHP   Jay Hook, Dick Pole, Keith Creel, Dock Ellis

MGR   Gil Hodges

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Dreamin’ of a Chicago Red Line World Series

by Dr. Rajesh C. Oza

The “L” ride from Addison to Sox-35th is my fantasy.
The White Sox are leading the Twins for first place,
The Cubs are battling the Brew Crew in a tight race.
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Cubs-Sox Red Line Series.

Belmont, Fullerton, North/Clybourn stations, please!
On hump day, A-Breg hit three dinger irrationals,
Leading the Cubbies over the Ex-Expos-Nationals.
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Sox-Cubs Red Line Series.

Clark/Division, Chicago, Grand stations, please!
On hump day, La Piedra hurled seven scoreless innings,
Leading the White Sox over the Cinci Reds 5-Nothings.
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Cubs-Sox Red Line Series.

Lake, Monroe, Jackson stations, please!
Venable’s heroes on the South Side have intense energy:
Burke, Grichuk, Peters, Vargas and Munetaka Murakami.
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Sox-Cubs Red Line Series.

Harrison, Roosevelt, Cermak-Chinatown stations, please!
Counsell’s heroes on the North Side hope to do no wrong:
Busch, Happ, Imanaga, Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Cubs-Sox Red Line Series.

Is it too early for me to dream away my wearies?
What will it take for a 7-game Series ride on the Red Line?
Pray for Pope Leo’s blessings? Forget Leo the Lip’s 1969?
I’m dreamin’ of a crosstown Sox-Cubs Red Line Series.

Dr. Oza will discuss his debut novel, Double Play on the Red Line, at Chicago’s Printers Row Lit Fest, 9/12/26, 3pm.

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A Paean to Tommy John

By James Finn Garner

You can’t be gone,
Tommy John,
‘Cause we hear your name
In every game.
When an arm gives out
We hear the shout:
“This is not an ending–
Find a tendon!”
You were the pioneer
It is clear,
And for everything you’ve saved
And thrills you gave,
I’d love to see your name
in the Hall of Fame.

RIP Tommy John (1943-2026)