My Daddy, Mr. Ed

 

To the young men in town
my daddy was Mr. Ed.
He knew them by name.
They respected what he said.

He helped them grow into men
and taught them how to hit and catch a ball.
To the boys in Hattiesburg,
my daddy was ten feet tall.

He started his coaching career
at the field near Jaycee Park.
His team was called Coca-Cola,
and they played games after dark.

But then Daddy’s hours were changed,
and he started working until nine.
No more coaching Little League.
He reluctantly had to decline.

Along came the Morning League.
Someone was always at our door,
turning in registration papers;
he was busy with baseball once more.

He started t-ball
and a softball team for girls.
The sport of baseball
was Daddy’s little world.

We shared Daddy, my sisters and I
with children who wanted to play ball.
Oh how proud I am of Mr. Ed!
My daddy who was ten feet tall.