The Baseball Umpire

The Baseball Umpire

1) The game was even Steven,
Then the Umpire called an OUT,
The crowd yelled ‘Kill the Umpire’
He don’t know what’s all about,
He made a wrong decision,
While the clouds of dust were deep,
With pop bottles and brick bats,
The crowd rocked him to sleep.
2) The Umpire lay a dying,
There beside the old Home Place,
The rocks and clubs about him,
Told how he had met his face,
The Catcher stood beside him,
And to keep the crowds at bay,
While on a dusty pillow,
His life slow ebbed away
3) He called the players ‘round him,
To bid them a last goodbye,
He said to change the scoring,
And to make the game a tie,
I’ve finished watching Bases,
And I’ve called my last Home Run,
I hear the Master calling,
My days on earth are done.
4) But boys before I leave you,
Here’s one thing I’d like to ask,
Just put my hand on Home Plate,
And kindly adjust my mask.
The Umpire slowly faltered,
And then gazed up toward the sun,
One past and t’was all over,
He’d made his last home run.
5) They buried him at sundown,
Right there opposite First Base,
A Ball bat in his tomb stone,
And a Base Bag marks the place,
His grave is a reminder,
To all those who Judge the show,
That he’s made his long journey,
To where ever Umpires go?

Bobby Gregory

1945