It was the first time
she ever walked
off the field
she took her shredded glove
her dented bat
and her cracked helmet
and went home
the sun had worn
that uniform to threads
pale and bruised
her skin flashed like
the underside of a fish
through her jersey
her heat bleached hair
crackled like fire
beneath the faded cap
and blood fell like a
crumb trail
as her cleats pushed
through the decaying
rubber soles.