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LITTLE
JOHNNY GETS A CHANCE
(A
parody, with apologies
to Ernest Lawrence
Thayer)
The Slugville Cubs were
famous for the homers
they had run;
For ten years straight
they'd held the prize
for being Number One.
But
suddenly their coach
expired before the final
game,
A
new one came from out of
town; Jim Jackson was
his name.
Now,
Jackson was an honest
man, forthright and
always fair.
Some
rules he changed; the
sponsors claimed,
"We do not have a
prayer."
Yes,
it is true the coach
they lost had picked the
very best
To
star in every
tournament, excluding
all the rest.
And
on that day in
ninety-two the sponsors
gave no praise
When
Jackson said with
fortitude, "Now
everybody plays;
For
don’t you see no boy
can learn if he’s
denied the chance?
No
Cub of mine will I
subject to unkind
circumstance."
So,
it surely did look
doubtful that the Slugs
would win that time;
The
game was nearly over and
the score stood eight to
nine.
Ramón
was hugging second,
little Butch was safe on
third;
"We’ll
need a miracle to
win," was
Stephen’s solemn word.
Alas,
it seemed that Fate
ordained the Slugs would
lose that day,
For
it was Johnny’s time
to bat, first tournament
to play.
Three
times it was he’d been
to bat, nine times
he’d struck in vain;
The
zealous mob had hoped
and prayed he would not
try again.
The
crowd began to chide and
taunt -- in anger they
did shout,
Demanding
Coach to put Chuck in,
throw little Johnny out.
And
little Johnny hung his
head, but when he looked
around,
He
saw Coach Jackson give
thumbs-up, a smile and
not a frown.
There
was a change in Johnny
as he fiercely gripped
the bat,
His
scrawny frame defiant as
upon the ground he spat.
He
tipped his cap just like
a pro; he jutted out his
chin,
Determination
in his soul to help the
Sluggers win.
It’s
true the sponsors found
the ball at least three
miles away,
And
it is true they thanked
the coach for letting
Johnny play;
But
best of all, the
Slugville folks have
taken up the stance
That
everybody, large or
small, deserves an equal
chance.
Copyright
© 1994 Ruth Gillis
"Little
Johnny Gets A
Chance" received a
First Place Award in the
August 1995 issue of The
Inspirational Poet;
and a Second Place Award
in the November 1996
issue of Poet's
Review.
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