Like a Nimbostratus
Off in the distance
Beautiful and captivating
Powerful and ominous
Ready to pour down upon everything in its path.

Like a fire made of driftwood
Snapping and popping
Warm and comforting
Drawing you near
And chasing you away.

Like a home run
Hit right to your seat
Towering and forceful
Precious and priceless
Heading into your bare hands.

I used to wish for the clouds to pass
For the sun to shine
For the fire to burn down to steady coals
For the baseballs to bounce
Before they got to me.

With the passing of the tides
The coming of the moons
The endless parade of seasons
Time has done what I could not:
It has calmed the storms within.

I find myself now longing
For a tempest terrible and tough
For fires formed with aerosol cans
For “The Hammer” to bat every time
With me in every seat

I want to dance out in the rain
Fan the flames that I once feared
I want to go to every game
Catch every ball that’s near
I want you to find the Chi within
And unleash it on the world.

Greg A. Freedman
April 27, 1999