The poem is about a son reflecting on his relationship with his absent father. As a child, the son and father would play catch together, but the father eventually left and was not there for the son. Even after 14 years, the son still feels the father's absence and sees him in the mirror. The son has now become better at baseball on his own and imagines throwing the ball far into space, wondering if his father will finally turn around and acknowledge him.

1. Transparent parent
By Marvin Foronda
On warm autumn days
We played catch with a baseball
Tossing it back and forth till the laughter of the kids in the park
Faded along with the light of the day.
You wanted me to be good.
You demanded that I be good.
But it was impossible,
Holding on to that baseball that
I swore you could send to the moon.
Bruised elbows and skinned knees
Walk it off
Cratered walls and shaky roofs
Walk it off
Tears and emotions
Walk it off
I must’ve walked in the wrong direction
Because you never came back to find me.
14 years
Your presence loomed behind me.
Sewn into my back as we shared that same jersey.
Your absence was a haunting voice that was
Constant reminders of the strikes you threw.
Like your ghost that I see clearer and clearer.
It’s hard to walk it off when I see you,
Every day in the mirror.
False hopes and promises,
Stitched together, like an old worn baseball.
Did you hear me call your name as I hurled that ball
Alone in the park?
I bet you didn’t bat an eye.
Figureless father
Where were you to catch me all those times I fell?
I was not good enough for you.
I accepted that, but
I became better. It took some time to warm up but now
I can launch that baseball beyond earth’s orbit.
Did you happen to turn around and catch that lone comet
Ablaze across the marble skies?
I’m sure you heard the roar of billions of stars.
When the light of your day fades,
You will see me.
In the cold autumn park
clutching that baseball.