BACK IN THOSE DAYS:

(Poem on the passing of Gary Carter, February, 16, 2012)

Back in those days, years seemed to last forever

Back in those days, we didn’t measure time

Back in those days, there were no years, only seasons

Of hockey, baseball, soccer.

As far as we saw

There was no last year for a player

Only last season,

Back in those days

We chose our teams, by their symbol

Or the first game we attended,

Or perhaps the team our dads liked.

A favourite team can be a family inheritance.

Back in those days:

Your grandparents were lucky to be in Florida, for spring training

A curious thing called the ‘Grapefruit League’

Back in those days, there was no googling stats

We collected cards for all we needed to know

Then tried to take those cards by playing topsies

Throwing them against a wall, it had its rules.

Back in those days, I had hat head

Because I only took off my Expos cap

For the school picture

Back in those days, you felt anxious

If you didn’t get your favourite player’s number

When the sweaters were handed out

Back in those days, we didn’t know

Some people didn’t like the ‘Big O’

Back in those days, you played for hours

With a tennis ball and a souvenir bat

Back in those days, garage doors

Were the universal boards and backstop

Back in those days, you learned how

To imitate the cheer of a crowd, with your voice.

Back in those days, we wanted it to last forever