Capsule

Then came the year when seagulls flocked
into our ballparks. Stadiums without domes
postponed, then cancelled even all-star games.
At first, players could play around them,
but then there were too many to kick away
or run through. We'll remember the photo
of Arroyo come up from sliding into second
with blood & feathers on his face while,
in front of the bag, the ump has one gull
by the neck, others underfoot. His call
brought both managers to the field,
& everybody laughed. Then came the year
pro football was shut down because of moths.
Then came the year NASCAR tried flamethrowers
against the trillions of ants that slicked all tracks,
but it was no use, nothing worked. Then the year
when Time did not end, though we thought it would.