Fields of Dreams
A haiga for Colleen’s tanka Tuesday words, hobby and play. There is a long tradition of baseball haiku, both in Japan and America.
I first thought of Rickey Henderson when I considered sketching a base stealer, but then I discovered that Jackie Robinson was the major league leader in steals of home in the modern era–he did it 19 times–so I used photos of him as my inspiration. Just one small part of his extraordinary legacy.
This second haiga is for Frank Tassone’s challenge of swallows. When Ken at rivrvlogr posted his response, it reminded me that the place I see swallows in NYC is at the ball park–clearly stadiums have good nesting places. And always plenty of dreams.
I’m definitely out of practice with my sketching, and I forgot how difficult it is to draw catchers. But Opening Day is just around the corner…
32 responses to “Fields of Dreams”
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- April 1, 2019 -
I like your sketches and the poems are really interesting.
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Thanks Robbie. I’ve been following baseball since I was a small child, so it’s part of my life…and I do like to draw bodies in motion, although I’ve been remiss with it lately.
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Your poem is very nice and you have explained the game so well, M and the sketches are very nice. A great post.
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Baseball is a closed book to me, but those sketches are full of verve, and I love the image in the second haiku of the swallow shadow.
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I agree about the swallow. In the haiku, it makes the game incidental. The swallow is always there., and the sketch reminds us of that.
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Thanks Ken, that’s just the effect I hoped for.
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Swallows I understand. It’s the movement in the sketch that I like, and as you say, reminds us of the flight of the bird.
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Thanks Jane. I was surprised the first time I saw swallows swooping through the stands…but birds are creative in their nesting. It’s something I look forward to now.
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You’re lucky to have them. Our swallow population has plummetted.
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #1 (3/27/19): memadtwo’s latest #haiga for my current #haikai challenge!
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Thanks!
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😇
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Ricky Henderson would be the baseball player who would most come to mind when stealing bases, but Jackie Robinson was a great base stealer as well.
The sketches are great.
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Thanks! I was lucky to experience Rickey in his New York days. Those head first slides! (my daughter would have been called out for a slide like that in Little League…)
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Rickey was great in Pinstripes.
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I don’t care about sports at all, though I can follow what’s going on in a baseball game. I like the action in your sketches and the verses go well with them. A fun response to the prompts!
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Thanks Merril. Last year I pretty much missed the baseball season, but I’m hoping to get back in the rhythm this year. And perhaps the Mets will be better than dreadful…
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Great action in your sketches Kerfe, I love the free motion of the lines.
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Thanks Sharon. It feels good to be back to doing some sketching, although, as I noted, I’m out of practice!
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I hope to see more!
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Lovely sketches, love this post.
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Thanks Helene.
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a sure sign of Spring and baseball season! Kerfe’s baseball sketches! They are awesome!
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Thanks Jodi. You always make me smile!
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Kerfe, I knew you were talented but this is superb! I love your sketches and your words. My hubby pitched for the Minnesota Twins in the early 1960s. Hark… I think I hear the cheering crowd now… He’s had baseball on for days now. LOL! ❤
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Thanks Colleen, you made me smile. What a time that must have been for your husband! Baseball has always been an important, if sometimes contentious, part of my family’s summer. I’m sure there will be more baseball art and poetry before the end of the season.
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Woo hoo! I love it. I really should write his baseball memoirs. It would be amazing! ❤️
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I really enjoyed this. Love the movement in the sketches. Especially loved that 2nd haiku. I don’t think I have ever seen a swallow, I drew a blank on that prompt. Nice work.
Pat
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Thanks Pat. The only time I see them is at the ball park, although there must be some in the parks.
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Love it! Great Haigas. The sketches are wonderful too. 😀
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Thanks Vashti.
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