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.