the home run

I remember
striking the ball so hard
that
the woman pitching gently
underhand
made a face.
her eyes widened
and she grimaced. the fat ball
hit the sweet
spot of my level swing
sending it over the left
fielder's head
into the gravel
parking lot.
it was forty years
ago
in a coed pick up
softball game,
but I can still remember
rounding
the bases as if it
was yesterday. mickey
mantle for a moment
in yankee stadium.