Sideways

Coming in that way, folks don't even hardly notice.

A glance, and they never knew you were lookin';

a board game, they never knew they had it comin';

a poem, and you just keep on chopping that onion.

Don't picture the black words on the white page 

or worry what they're gonna think.

Just listen to those words in your head, and get ‘em on out.

Don't label drawing "official, career, capital ‘A’ artist" work

And don't even mention the 

"this is what makes me tick" little ‘a’ artist passion 

when they ask you who you are.

Just keep on goin' to the swim meets 

and slapping down that home-cooked chicken on the table, 

all the while slipping in the making 

without your brain even knowing.

Sorta like that first base runner stealing second.

Out of your head, in the zone,

just get on out a step or two 

and start running for all you’re worth.

Afore you know it, 

you're slidin' on in.

You and that second baseman 'll never know what hit 'ya.

© Rie Harris, 2017

Sliding baseball player at a St. Louis Terriers game, 1914/1915
Photo by Russell Froelich
from Wikimedia Commons