Johnson

So, it has been a real tumultuous time, dealing with my father dying, when this just came to me today. Thought I would share the process from sketchbook draft to illustration first pass and next draft of poem about Mike Johnson, the under-recognized Hops leftfielder.

Hitter

Thousands of times
stationed rear box
better to see breaks
split
second
extra response

bat at rest between
gentle
left shoulder taps
hands quiet

unlike
catcher fidgeting
process decisions
fingers flashing
location
pitch selection
shifting feet
spikes scraping red dirt

young man on mound
winds up
exaggerated hesitation
all the rage

heat high
no flinch
ball one
repeat sign
on this tune
heat again
strays inside tight
two-oh

slight lip curl
ready

get it in
breaking pitch
mistake

connect
crack back through box
nearly denudes hurler
careening into center
another
base
rap