PUT YOURSELF THERE

(Thinking of the game for Ed Rife)

There is no one there, today,

where Ed played at shortstop,

but if the light is right

you will see his shadow,

at the position he owned,

knowing who was up, who was on,

and what to do when the ball came.

Ed always knew what to do

when the ball came, or

wherever it went instead.

Put yourself there today,

at shortstop, where Ed played.

You don’t need to be a hero;

be a shortstop! How many are out?

Who is on? What’s the count?

How are the guys positioned?

Who has an arm, and who needs a relay?

Be the guy at shortstop!

Part of being a ballplayer,

part of understanding what made Ed

better at baseball than most of us,

was that he thought about it first,

so that when it came, he already knew

what he was going to do.

Then it was sure and easy:

Ed already knew what to do,

then he did it; easy!

Put yourself there today,

at shortstop, in Ed’s footsteps,

and if you do, it will be a better game,

and you will be better, too,

because of how Ed played.

Put yourself there, at shortstop!

—Conrad Røyksund

October 1, 2014

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