(24 Hour Challenge) An Ode to Cleveland Baseball (Villanelle Style)

Essays
Written By Nathan Box

As part of the 15th Anniversary celebration for Natetheworld.com, I am hosting a 24-hour writing challenge. Starting in January 2024, readers began submitting essay prompts. My goal is to tackle as many of these prompts as possible in a 24-hour period.

Baseball is a heartbreaking and miserable sport.

It is filled with fleeting highs and impossible lows.

You must be a Cleveland Guardians fan, as you stop me short.

They have brought me joy.

They have brought me pain.

Baseball is a heartbreaking and miserable sport.

Yet, I return each year with renewed faith.

A faith that defies all logic and reason.

You must be a Cleveland Guardians fan, as you stop me short.

I have seen them reach the mountain top.

Inches and moments of glory from winning it all.

Baseball is a heartbreaking and miserable sport.

But I can become consumed with the day when the misery ends.

I see fans filling city streets and tears in my living room.

You must be a Cleveland Guardians fan, as you stop me short.

March and April can’t come soon enough.

This year will be our year.

Baseball is a heartbreaking and miserable sport.

You must be a Cleveland Guardians fan, as you stop me short.

Be good to each other,

Nathan

Nathan Box
Hello! My name is Nathan. I've always believed I would meet that special someone in one of two places; either a record store or a book store. Maybe I need to amend? I moved to Seattle in February of 2011 from Oklahoma City (Try and not hold the Sonics/Thunder thing against me). I knew I wanted to work for a nonprofit and go to grad school. Within a couple of months, I was doing both. During the day, I work as a Fund Developer and Community Relations Manager for a nonprofit in Kent and at night I try to stay as busy as possible volunteering, trying new restaurants, finding hidden bars and exploring Seattle. The past few years has been both terrifying and exhilarating. I have done things on my own I didn’t think were within my capability. I love being outdoors. On any given weekend, I can be found hiking, on a road trip, volunteering, at a museum, seeing a movie (I see a lot of them). I am passionate about nonprofit work. I feel called to leave a mark on this world. Nothing against those who enjoy making tons of money, I just need to know I am making a difference.
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