Between geometry and philosophy
I learned about circles
going around forever.
I never understood about balls,
how they meant everything:
tropheys, courage, girls, money,
being counted in.
I never thought of balls
except for the trouble they caused me,
the smothering days in right field
where few came,
growling in commando enthusiasm
near the five yard line
through nights of ice.
My specialty was leaves –
their jagged edges,
their unlikely forms.