Two Poems, One Game

The Answer is No

Four-year-old Indian boy

leans forward on his bleacher

tucks his legs under the bench

hands outstretched in front

on the back of my seat

he comes in close

the bill of his cap kissing

the bill of mine

asks me if I live in a hotel

then hollers out laughter

and the tiniest bit of spittle

without waiting for an answer

his mom grins

my friends cackle

and the Mariners

let two more runs in.

Why Are You Being Such Assholes? I Just Want to Watch the Game

Before the start of the national anthem

barely after hitting practice

alcohol enforcement escorts

an unwilling and intoxicated man

out of Safeco Field

We pass him on the stairs

three large men with shiny badges

grip the back of his neck

his wrists and shoulders

He insists that he would prefer to stay

squats down freeing a hand

placing it on the stair behind him

forcing the big men to drag

His bloodshot eyes

turn back to the field

as he explains

he just wants to watch the game

As we pass we chuckle

at awkward positioning

like a drunken game

of stair twister

only with annoyed

law enforcement

and the loser,

presumably,

facing hefty legal fees

The drunk hears our laughter

smiles at us and repeats his intentions

he just wants to watch the game

Well, the Mariners

ended up losing

9 to 1,

hopefully that will serve

as some consolation.