This batsman, strong and sturdy;
so endowed with pride and skill,
was stunned that day in Mudville
and his life went straight downhill!

His self esteem, once overflowing,
suddenly went dry.
The confidence, he counted on,
just left--with no good-bye!

Where once, whene'er he came to bat,
the pitcher's mood turned grim,
his, henceforth unfit manner
caused them glee when facing him!

Where once, upon his stroll to bat,
loud accolades were shown,
the crowd now, when he reached the box,
let out a ghastly moan!

Where were the cheers; the frenzied shouts;
the praise he'd known so well?
The rug was yanked out from his feet!
How far and fast he fell!

Once perched up high and sturdy
on the lofty mountain top,
his tumble soon gained speed
and Casey's snowball wouldn't stop!

His talents all abandoned him;
the coop, they all had flown!
And mighty Casey hit the dirt,
exhausted and alone.

He soon was asked to leave the team,
so poorly did he play.
The fans no longer cheered for him.
They now just looked away.

So, mighty Casey, once the king
(the Mudville cap his crown)
was now a capless pauper,
with his life turned upside-down.

And Casey now faced humbleness;
'twas ev'rywhere he turned!
To start anew, he now was faced;
his ways to be relearned!

For, baseball was his only love;
it sparked his inner soul.
It made him happy and content.
It's that which made him whole!

But now, an ugly duckling
had been transformed from a swan!
And Casey grieved his present state.
The game he loved was gone!

The time dragged on and Casey
had to struggle through each day.
And struggle he, indeed, did do.
There was no other way!

He tried to deal with this cruel twist,
disgraceful, though it was,
but Casey felt he'd make it through.
What one must do--one does.

But then he saw a headline, large.
His pulse, now swiftly raced!
His team had found a hero, fresh.
His star had been replaced!

The fans adored this slugger.
All their hopes were now renewed.
And Casey's name was buried, lost.
He wasn't even booed.

He thought about the lofty heights
whence he began his slide.
He pondered, now his present lot.
And mighty Casey cried!

He found himself, now gripped with fear!
His soul's foundation shook!
And Casey faced his toughest foe.
Inside, he had to look!

His strength would be no asset, now.
And toughness, mattered, not.
He struggled in this spider's web;
a fly who'd just been caught!

A bird swooped down--quite hideous--
its flapping wings all blurred.
The breeze this caused, brushed Casey's cheek.
Then vanish, did the bird.

And Casey pondered what this meant.
Then sensed cold terror, real.
The wings of madness had shown up.
Its wind, did Casey feel.

He screamed out crass obscenities!
He ranted, "It's not fair!"
Then, someone touched him on the sleeve
and softly said, "I care."

This mighty hero, shoulders once
so powerful and Grande
was, now a helpless, lonely boy.
He reached for this warm hand.

She listened to him patiently.
'Twas all that she could do.
He learned to lean on someone else.
This need was odd and new.

For mighty Casey'd always been
the independent sort.
He handled matters on his own.
He needed no support.

But now he did require help;
a feeling, hence unknown.
He couldn't do what need be done;
one man, all on his own.

His past heroics, now Old News;
his legacy, undone.
His fame, so much like morning fog
dispersed, by rays of sun.

He didn't look heroic now;
nor could he e'en pretend.
But pitiful as he now felt,
at least he had a friend.

Harsh feelings struck him, endlessly;
he found, not, how one hides.
'Twas like a score of pitchers
hurling fastballs from all sides!

First, loneliness and emptiness
began to make him wilt.
Then hopelessness and sadness struck.
Then anger! Fin'lly guilt!

This last emotion was the fiercest demon
he'd e'er met.
It forced reflection to be made.
It kindled strong regret!

A man can sometimes run away
from pain brought on by grief.
But when the wound is by one's hand,
no running brings relief.

The anger, he could scream about.
And loneliness could be
diffused by cursing at the source
of this calamity.

But guilt could not be sprinted from
or yelled at or be drowned.
The only way to deal with this;
it must be faced, he found.

How cocky, he had been, he thought,
before he danced with fate.
That fame he'd known 'fore then,
he barely did appreciate.

He thought 'twould last forever;
each day better than before.
The cheers today were fine but then
tomorrow there'd be more!

Why'd he ignore the first two strikes?
He grimly pondered this.
Could he not fathom that perhaps,
he might just swing and miss?

And all the other glo'rious times;
these mem'ries, now like gold!
He cried as he recalled those, now-lost treasures
he did hold.

His life'd been filled with precious gems,
but he had just seen rocks;
with value little better than
another pair of socks.

He wished he'd worshipped all these gifts;
embraced these joys, so rare.
Such favors don't come ev'ry day;
so full, had been his share!

And now there was vast emptiness.
His life seemed one dark hole.
His friend, he leaned on, more and more.
She helped to calm his soul.

She couldn't make the clock turn back
or change the current date.
But she could listen as he struggled
through this dark, bleak state.

Her friendship, so inval'uable,
was one good thing to feel.
And Casey wasn't e'er alone
to face this harsh ordeal.

Through talking with his friend, he got
the chance to then reflect.
She helped him cope with where he was;
his bearings to collect.

He'd made mistakes! He'd acted vain!
His aura'd been undressed.
When life throws you a curve-ball, Casey learned
...just do your best!

Did Casey get his second chance
to climb back in the ring;
to taste the glory, once again;
to hear the chorus sing;

to get to bat just one more time;
to shake off all that blame;
and to fin'lly hit the homer
which would Grandly win the game?

We don't live in a fairy-land,
our heroes with no flaws;
they are not always perfect
or deserving our applause.

They do not always know success,
e'en with a second chance.
We all must learn acceptance;
we've all got to learn to dance.

...don't know if Casey got his chance to,
once more, hear those cheers.
We know, though, he is human,
after all these many years.