The Great Bambino

By Harold Terezón

for #4 Zach Cruz

He earned his place on this diamond
fielding big dreams of catching
the towering fly ball; his heart

unconditional, sharing new places
where hope lives. Did it matter
that during ten minutes of practice

he tripped during a running drill,
swung the bat into his chin on his way
to the plate, and was later hit by a baseball?

I watched him closely while tears dried quickly:
he did not grieve like you or I grieve,
it’s just that he was not lost as we are lost.

He walked back on the field with an Angel
cap on, bent his knees, put his glove to the grass,
always set to catch to next big homerun.