Jason Baldinger: “when pigs fly”

when pigs fly

maybe pigs will fly
take a running start down st nicolas
into the wind like early sons of aviation
before crashing into the monongahela

maybe they'll launch from wadell avenue
a doppler squeal lost in a mothball sky
in this valley of work anything is possible
even the great american dream

stan musial could flat out hit
from the back of the batters box
bat sweeping across the plate
ball bouncing off left field wall
he hustles into second

he worked off seasons
a freight checker at us steel
his wife set up housekeeping
a few blocks from where he was born
maybe the world was smaller then

they were off to st louis
when the inversion started
smog veils, this valley nightmare
gossamer sunsets
halloween gas masks
a weight that sits
suffocating on your chest
it was no surprise
people started to die

it was no surprise doom
settled this city in smog
musial collected his parents
sent them to enjoy their dotage
somewhere in suburban missouri
he didn't come back
not to sit on a jeep on thanksgiving
as parades death marched
from the sons of italy
past the rooming houses
down hills that lead

down river to forbes field
cardinals in traveling grays
musial sends bob friend’s fastball
on a right field richochet
clemente fields it cleanly
fires it home
musial at second
tips his hat as pigs fly by

the valley of work gasps for breath
the rich will always get richer
the air may recover or kill more slowly
really, it's more lottery than dream

About the Author: Jason Baldinger is a poet and photographer from Pittsburgh, PA. He’s penned fifteen books of poetry the newest of which include: A History of Backroads Misplaced: Selected Poems 2010-2020 (Kung Fu Treachery), and This Still Life (Kung Fu Treachery) with James Benger. His first book of photography, Lazarus, as well as two ekphrastic collaborations (with Rebecca Schumejda and Robert Dean) are forthcoming. His work has appeared across a wide variety of online sites and print journals. You can hear him from various books on Bandcamp and on lps by The Gotobeds and Theremonster. His etsy shop can be found under the tag la belle riviere.

Image Credit: Detroit Publishing Co “The Bleachers, Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.” Public domain image courtesy of the Library of Congress