Poem Written While Contemplating
'To the ESPN Announcers'

by David Twiddy

It had been that every Saturday
Jack would buy a pack of cigarettes
And go to the stadium to watch the ball game.
In such smallnesses was his sanity,
He could not afford much more.

From every pack of cigarettes,
A few more pennies drifted
Into the coffer the city reserved
To pay for the new stadium.
Over the months
Jack paid for his seat,
But still had to rent it
From the owner.

One Saturday,
Jack sat down and lit up
Only to be shooed at.
"No smoking here!
The fumes rise to the boxes
and chase the company men away.
You don't pay enough to gas up the place."

Jack sat, and did not smoke
In the shadow of the boxes.

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