Thursday, June 14, 2012


For Poetry Friday, hosted by A Year of Reading http://readingyear.blogspot.com/
a baseball poem from Poem Runs (Harcourt)

CATCHER

I can catch curve balls.
I can catch heat.
I can catch sliders
With glove or with feet.

I block with my belly.
I nab with my knees.
Throw me jars of jelly.
I'll grab them with ease.

Throw screwballs,
Or two balls,
Brand-new balls-
I'll snatch 'em.

Throw low balls.
Big snowballs,
Or cannonballs-
I'll catch 'em.

Illustration and poem Catcher copyright 2012 by Douglas Florian

10 comments:

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for sharing another poem from your Baseball collection!

Katya said...

I'm trying to picture how you'd catch a cannonball. ;-) A really, really big glove? Using a beanbag chair?

Donna Smith said...

This put me in mind of my dad who LOVED baseball...was recruited for the Red Sox farm team way long time ago...We played Pictionary together once in his later years, and I remember him taking any word and ending up with pictures referencing baseball somehow, no matter the word. When I pointed it out, he laughed till the tears rolled! His great grandson's first word was "ball"! Thanks for taking me back!

Douglas Florian said...

Thanx Mary Lee, Katya, and Donna. You catch a cannonball with a beer belly!

Linda B said...

This 'catcher' is truly resilient, & I know one young child who will love your poem. Thanks for sharing from your book. I didn't know about it, so off it goes to the list.

Ruth said...

My son's first word was "ball," too, Donna. I'll read this to him tomorrow!

Tara said...

Reading this and watching a ball game...my idea of heaven!

Robyn Hood Black said...

Delightful! Love the image of those flying jelly jars... Thanks for sharing.

Douglas Florian said...

Also thanx to Linda, Ruth, Tara, and Robyn Hood Black on Father's Day.

Kelly Polark said...

Love the poem, Douglas! I always buy a book when I give birthday gifts for my children's friends and this one is perfect for my youngest son's baseball loving friends!