Unwritten Rules

Unwritten Rules

Christopher Rubio-Goldsmith

No player may walk
through the dugout and speak
to the pitcher when he is
working a no-no.
Not even to get peanuts.
Learning silence is a truth.
 
The batter never
bunts to kill the no-hitter.
That creates the tragedy
and something more. That
bunt, may release the flying
monkeys, and their spears.
 
(You never talk about your
ex on a first date).
 
The batter after
slamming a dinger may
not flip the bat or admire his
work as it leaves
the field and lands in the hands
of a smiling kid.
 
No stealing a base
or swinging on a 3-0 count
with a big lead are true. This
may be the gateway
to falling in with a bad crowd
 
who reach into the row in
front of them and jack
the ball thrown from the bullpen
to the tiny fan
who just got his new braces
tightened and his mouth feels
like it is in a vice.
 
It is this, the beauty
of no clock (well almost),
and no one ever rubs the spot
that got hit by the fastball.
Remember: courage
cannot change fact. Never
rage at the youth who
do not yet understand and
regret the passage of time.

Christopher Rubio-Goldsmith was born in Merida, Yucatan, grew up in Tucson, Arizona and taught English at Tucson High Magnet School for 27 years. Much of his poetry explores growing up near the border, being raised biracial/bilingual and teaching in a large urban school where 70% of the students are American/Mexican. His writings have appeared in Touchstone Journal, The Rockvale Journal, Allium Journal the Anthology America We Call Your Name and other places too. Kelly his wife of 30 years helps edit the work, sometimes.

Sam Williams is a cartoonist, comics publisher, and baseball enthusiast based in Bournemouth, UK.

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