a Cubs poem...

by mycubs1987 on Jan 9, 2009 2:42 PM CST Comment 45 comments

Hey guys,

I'm 21 years old now and graduating from college this spring, but I recently found a poem that I had written for my senior literature class in high school. The poem was supposed to be written about our true love, so naturally I wrote about the Cubs. :-)

Just thought it was worth sharing...

My True Love

Is there anything more brilliant than a Sunday in the park?

Or the long majestic journey of the home run’s soaring arc?

Whether April or October, whether blinding sun or clouds

there’s an overpow’ring sense of being one among the crowds

of fans who wait for decades, hoping one day they’ll be blessed

with a team that hoists that trophy, signifying they’re the best.

When I started watching baseball, ’98 if I recall

I soon realized that the game was more than just a bat and ball,

that it overtook the senses with a power to excite,

watching Woody strike out twenty, Sammy sprinting out to right.

The home run chase, the playoff race, the faith that never ceases

that this year could fin’lly be the year futility decreases.

It’s been ninety-seven years now since the Cubs have won it all,

Ninety-seven years of curses, chokes, and most of all, a ball.

A little ball of twine and seams that has amazing powers

to captivate and devastate a person in three hours.

Cubs fans are famous for their faith, and there’s never a reprieve

For we know there’s always next year, so we might as well believe.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Excellent!

I hope your teacher gave you an A+

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Jan 9, 2009 2:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

:)

Very nice.

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jan 9, 2009 2:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wonderful poem

Thanks for sharing.

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by tucsoncubsfan on Jan 9, 2009 3:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nice

My 2008 Christmas wish list includes this jersey. In Hendry We Trust!

by initram on Jan 9, 2009 3:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

There once was a governer named Blago
Who hailed from the town of Chicago

His phone calls were candid
He got caught red-handed

And the Illinois House voted 114-1 to impeach him for trying to sell president-elect Barack Obama’s senate seat.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 9, 2009 3:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not a very good limerick.

But true, except it was 117-1.

And we should probably stop the politics here.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 9, 2009 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you sure know how to end with a bang

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 12, 2009 4:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

TWSS

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 12, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

CUBS WIN! CUE THE ORCHESTRA!

by Keith on Jan 9, 2009 3:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Very nice.

Ironically enough, the 1987 in your user name is the year that I was a senior in high school. Now someone get these damn kids off my lawn. And turn down that music! Can’t hear myself think…

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 9, 2009 4:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nicely done kid

BTW when I think of poems, I think of

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 9, 2009 5:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

SHE NEEDED THE MONEY!!! OHHHHH!!!!

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 9, 2009 5:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HICKORY DICKORY DOCK!

THE B………………………………….

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 9, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mother Goose, remember her?

I ****ed her!

"They say we live and learn. Often what we learn is what damn fools we have been." ~Thomas Sowell

by Goodie1969 on Jan 11, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, it was HE

needed the money

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 9, 2009 5:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Little Boy Blew?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jan 9, 2009 6:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You Are Correct Sir!

We just hope that he wans’t

Little Boy “Cubbie” Blue

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Jan 10, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you're right. It should be "He."

Deduct 50 points from my BCB account and 100 from my Diceman Fan Club account.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 10, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice work

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Jan 9, 2009 5:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yay poetry!

Very nice.

Bleed Cubbie Blue: Like Drāno for your internet tubes.

by znohitter on Jan 10, 2009 2:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

BRAVO! Very nicely done!

I also got in trouble at NIU in a Journalism class for writing about the ’69 Cubs in 1972. I received wonderfully positive comments from the prof for excellent and insightful writing; however, I received a D+ grade for “not meeting the spirit of the assignment.”!

Is there ANYTHING more spritual than maintaining a life-long devotion, faith, hope, and love for the Chicao Cubs!!!!

Nonetheless, the prof I believe was a Cards fan – definitely from U of Missouri’s School of Journalism.

I have also been writing Cubs, baseball, and Wrigley Field poetry since I was in High School, and once again would like to encourage Al to please consider a dedicated spot on BCB for Cubs, Wrigley Field, and Baseball Poetry.

I realize that Stuart Shea has a website for baseball poetry, but I call BCB my Cubs home away from Wrigley.

I would also prefer to share directly with this community; as well as add the opportunity to promote more literary expressions from our BCB community, and add to the diversity and richness of the best Cubs virtual community in the universe!

2008 passed wthout MLB, or any team that I know of, paying proper homage to Jack Norworth’s great song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The song that is performed in Wrigley and all over the US ballparks is only the Chorus.

The actual song is so much more colorful, and reflects the early history and passion of the game that was being played at the turn of the 20th Century – when the Cubs were Champions!

I downloaded the originally recorded version, and have this set as a heartwarming ringtone for my younger daughter, now a Mom in SanAntonio, who is continuing the tradition of proudly raising another generation of Genetic Cub Fans!

Poetry is a personal expression from the depths of our souls -

and Cubs Fans’ souls, both living and beyond, know no boundaries in the passion and intensity of emotions that are endured, expressed, experienced, shared, and ultimately embraced as part of the most cherished gifts in our lives!

“Katie Casey was baseball mad, had the fever and had it bad…”;

so begins the opening lyrics of a century-old song that deserved better in 2008,

kinda like a Northside Professional Baseball Team that faded all to early…

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 1:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting Facts about Take Me Out... and original lyrics, plus...

Baseball Almanac also lists the 1927 modified lyrics, some great stories about the songwriters, and links to download and listen to the original 1908 recording, plus Ditka’s rendition, and others!

Oh, and be sure to read their “Fun Facts” about the “story” of when Jack Norworth and his co-writer supposedly attended their first MLB game, received awards, and guess who one of the two teams playing that day just happened to be!?

Wanna guess the final score too?

Someday…

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stmo.shtml

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 2:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure...

… where I’d put such a dedicated spot for poetry… but everyone is always welcome to put up FanPosts like this one with poetry included.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 11, 2009 4:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for thinking about this Al!

" Dedicated" might not have been the best word to convey what I was trying to say.

I don’t think an “exclusive” or new spot needs to be created.

How about adding this spot to ‘BCB Specials & Site Info’ that already would accurately describe this content?

Sure, we can and do get Fanposts with poetry, but gathering these in one spot, altogether, would enrich BCB.

As I said above, possibly provide and create more opportunities and motivation for BCB members to add a special literary section that truly fits perfectly with the BCB community’s unique and diverse offerings.

The offseason is a perfect time for many of us to focus on poems, reflect on the season past, create some pieces for the upcoming season, or just submit previously written work.

The vast variety of members’ posts, comments, cartoons, humor, polls, and lists offer infinite content to “cook up” lyrical lines and verse on all things Bleeding Cubbie Blue; as well as Wrigley Field, baseball, new ownership, fans, and the timeline countdown to Spring Training and Opening Day.

Just my $.02 for a special plea to enhance BCB, and perhaps encourage more literary writing from young and oldtimers, like myself.

Who knows, Poetry Magazine (online) having Chicago as its home, may find some competition for their Baseball content!

As a former educator, I could see teachers encouraging many unmotivated students to increase and improve their writing skills with this opportunity to be “published” online!

A possible “minor plug” on a well-respected and viewed local morning TV news station might help spark those teachers and students as well!?

Who knows, this could even create some interest in a spot at the Annual Cubs Convention!

Thanks for always listening, and staying open-minded.

I truly appreciate and love this site, and would find extra time to contribute and create more poems given a “special content” spot.

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 5:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I could add such a post to the site...

… but would it eventually get too filled up with various entries? Would it be better just to read these from time to time?

Let me think about this and figure out the best way to do it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 11, 2009 7:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank You Again Al!

Filling up would be a problem if the space/area is limited I guess – but I know nothing about technical aspects of websites.

On the otherhand, don’t the SBN sites, and BCB have archived files as well?

Another thought might be to continue with the Fanpost entries, and allow the member to choose to post the entry poem only to the “other section/place” as well.

I will also add any ideas as I ponder this as too.

Thanks!

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Far be it for me to defend MLB...

…but they DID actually recognize the 100th anniversary of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in 2008. MLB held a video contest on its Web site and the winner performed the song at the All-Star Game. You can still see the results and a few of the vids here. My daughter and I submitted an entry but it apparently wasn’t worthy because our clip never appeared on the contest page.

As far as having a dedicated BCB spot for poetry (and, presumably, other forms of literary expression), it’s an interesting idea. I’m not sure enough people would participate to warrant it. Then again, as you say, if Al built it, perhaps they’d come. It would make for some interesting off-season reading at the very least.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 11, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MLB needing to be defended???

Thanks for the endorsement and support for the poetry/literary section! I could also see book reviews and announcements included.

Yes, thanks for mentioning this about the THIRD most popularly sung song in the history of the USA! (National Anthem, and Happy Birthday are ahead); however, please look at the video, and notice that there is NO mention or singing of the ENTIRE lyrics/song – just the chorus!

On Ken Burns’ series on baseball, Carly Simon did an outstanding (slightly modified lyrics) performance of this great song. I found a downloadable site that contains variety of renditions:

http://www.allaoijr.com/takemeout/Carly_Simon_mp.html

I found this neglect rather appalling given the resources and the constant promotion that MLB places on “the tradition and history of the game”!

At the very least, fans could have been informed of the song’s history with a brief announcement, and copies of the original music sheet could have been given out as a “freebie” for promotion.

The song in its entirety would have been a very special, honorable, and well-deserved tribute and educational service to baseball fans;

but, as you said, ‘far be it for ANYONE to defend the MLB’!

I guess the song, just like the Cubs will have to WTNY, or maybe next Century’s anniversary!

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, not to belabor the point...

…but if you go the link I provided in my previous comment, there is another link (see bottom right of the page) to a history of the song, including the complete lyrics.

CLICK HERE

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 12, 2009 11:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MLB DID belabor the point!

I watched the entire AllStar Game and never heard anyone perform the entire lyrics!

Your post of the “Official MLB/Baby Ruth”promotion included two finalists who did pay tribute to the entire song. However, they never appeared for a public performance -just posted on the net.

The finalists were shameless promoters of the candy bar sponsor, wearing NYY jerseys (where was the All Star Game played???), and quite frankly “ruthless” in their butchering of even the chorus!

The sponsors and MLB chose to dishonor the song by selecting these yahoos from NYC who probably were not even aware of the song’s history, and only interested in “sucking up to the sponsor” for their “tribute of mediocrity to greed and classless, tasteless self-promotion”!

My vote was for the guy wearing a Sox throwback jersey and singing the entire lyrics plus playing harmonica.

As a rare and historical event, this “tribute” deserved so much more from MLB, and all of the baseball parks and leagues across the US and overseas!

I can’t wait to see how the NY media and MLB choose to honor the Cubs when they DO win it all – probably place a front page obituary for the burial of the curse!

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 14, 2009 1:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I voted for the guy with the harmonica, too.

Liked his voice and guitar playing and, as you said, he did seem the most authentic and historically respectful. I agree about the winner as well – he was a smarmy Yankees fan who apparently threw his tuba-playing twin brother under the bus when it came time to actually perform the song at the All-Star game. (He appeared alone sans ukelele and was far less charming.)

Like I said, far be it for me to defend the MLB. Just wanted to point out that they did make a cursory effort to provide some historical background – even if it was wrapped in corporate candy bar mongering.

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 14, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"Baseball is Poetry"

I think you will enjoy this 2007 essay with comments from Poetry that includes some of the more “famous” baseball poems written, but also many commenters posted their own poems.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/journal/feature.html?id=180149

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 6:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Poetry is a GREAT publication

couldn’t recommend it more highly.

"Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil," - Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims, 64.

by Emelie on Jan 12, 2009 4:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Very nice, but....

…don’t be surprised if Blago starts quoting it at his next press conference now that you have put it out there for everyone.

by DudeVf11 on Jan 11, 2009 9:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

LMAO!!!!

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jan 11, 2009 12:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Next press conference!

Interesting that you thought of this.

I met him after the Cubs first playoff this year in the lower concourse taking pictures and meeting with fans.

I offered for him to look at one of my poems (on my cell phone), and he did try to read it briefly, but obviously was pressed for time (and was with his daughter); so he politely had one of his staff hand me a card to submit it to him via his email.

When I got home and looked closely at his card, there was NO email address whatsoever!

Needless to say, I did find his online official State of IL website and shared several of my Cubs poems . No replies to date.

But I did get a memorable souvenir in the form of his official business card to add to my Cubs memorabilia, and the opportunity of meeting and speaking with him up close and personal!

I also kept a copy of the email that I posted through his website.

Perhaps he will have more time on his hands for poetry reading this season!

I wish his family peace!

Someday…

by GeneticCubsFan on Jan 11, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd

Just wanted to say how well written this is.

"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly

by ambrosiadreams on Jan 11, 2009 5:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Poems make me feel like:

by philadelphiacub on Jan 12, 2009 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Stoned?

RIP Ron Asheton (1948-2009)

by dat cubfan daver on Jan 12, 2009 11:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Care Bear Stare!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 12, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Like you should do the Time Warp again?

Bleed Cubbie Blue: Like Drāno for your internet tubes.

by znohitter on Jan 12, 2009 1:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Spaghetti and meatballs?

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Jan 14, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

CARE BEARS!

Which one’s the “Captain?”

by Boom Town on Jan 15, 2009 10:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Love your poem . . . as a cub fan with the high hopes of 1969 still stuck in my world I really relate to your last line stating there is always next year. While I am a bit older than you, born in the era that I went to games in 1969, I have dedicated my personal blog to the Cubs of 1969: http://wait-til-next-year.blogspot.com May I modify your poem, give you credit and post it . . . or better yet you modify it and contriubute to my blog ? The Cubs will shine in two thousand and nine. Thanks for the shared “love”.

check out my blog: http://wait-til-next-year.blogspot.com

by jadip516 on Jan 15, 2009 7:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs