Floating

Legend has it Ken Griffey Jr. hit a home run so far it flew
beyond the brim           of a stadium and destroyed
a neighboring warehouse window         and even Michael Jordan
wanted Ken’s autograph Legend has it Ken Griffey Jr. 
means something different   in every language
He is from Ohio but he is also from       everywhere else
An entire ocean     of cool   pulled from chemical skies     and into
the prosodies of    Coltrane gospel         and Skyline Chili cash register hymnal
Legend has it   Ken said he could play      an entire game   in the rain
and walk into       the clubhouse        dry as wind
O Ken don’t you know only God    can out-God     God

Legend has it I had a swing     beautiful   like Ken’s
could play an entire game   in the rain and float like air
my running feet quietly grazing dirt          a divine inheritance  I never earned
Maybe in another universe      I give it all up just to want   and be wanted

Matt Mitchell is a gluten-free, heartbroken, intersex writer living in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of The Neon Hollywood Cowboy (Big Lucks, 2021). Find him on Twitter @matt_mitchell48.