Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

To Bill Buckner

“immortal goat / ring your good bell” – g.c.

bill, i cried
when the grounder dribbled thru in 86
even tho schiraldi & stanley
blew the two-run lead in the 9th
sometimes there needs to be a goat
& that time the goat was you

you had a chance in game seven
we had faith you’d lose
and you did
and we ran you out of new england
on that gimpy ankle
the pike in our hearts
still snowed in
from stockbridge to boston
by the bambino’s curse

i cried
as you made that life-
saving catch
when someone threw a baby
out the window

of a burning building
she bounced off the life net
and was saved, safe
in your outstretched hands

the firemen lifted you
a humble hero’s smile
caught across your face
you’d made some peace

& when you threw out
the first pitch at fenway
opening day in 08
you
got a
two-
minute
standing
ovation
i think we all cried
knowing one
can be redeemed

but could we ever forgive
ourselves for cursing you?

 

Andrew K. Peterson is a Boston-based poet (and, alas, a lifelong Red Sox fan). He is the author of six full-length poetry books, most recently Secret Equinox / Scorpio Journal (Spuyten Duyvil, 2023). In 2017 he was a co-poet wrangler at the Boston Poetry Marathon. He also founded the lit journal, summer stock.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.