Prayer for the Umpire
 

by Paul B. Janeczko

May you go unnoticed
in your job of noticing
things small and large:
the edges of the plate
as well as its heart,
the hands of the fans eager for
a souvenir before its time,
the bounce of the ball
the lay of the line
the mutterings of the sulky clean-up batter.

May your voice
leave no doubt
about ball or stee-riiike.

May your knees not ache.

May your arches not fall.

May your mask remain sound.

And may you give all players
their say
before you turn away.