Analyzing Baron Wormser's Poem 'In Baseball'

Baron Wormser dramatizes the conflict between player and player in his poem titled,“In Baseball.” Particularly as the conflict relates to the poet’s conception of success and how it is attained and determined. Wormser uses imagery and certain expressions to convey hardships and triumphs of everyday life. In addition, the poet continuously contemplates the notion that every moment leads to a certain fate as well as how every action reveals a new facet of someones personality.
“Neither forces nor bodies equivocate,” portrays Baron Wormser’s sarcasm. He is stating that no individual would ever lie or conceal the truth in order to succeed. I believe Wormser says this to sarcastically emphasis that many people do equivocate. The second line, “Each

action holds a tell-tale trait,” describes how every action an individual makes can determine and disclose what type of person they are. While, “Each moment convokes an actual fate,” ultimately implies that life demands tremendous affluence and very little defeat. Not to mention how one moment can change an individuals life forever.
Having a sense of reality is a remarkable entity.

Reality makes it so an individual can realistically visualize the world and their future. “Reality, being precious, becomes a game,” symbolizes how life is precious as well as a battle. To many individuals life becomes a game, a mere competition against other spectators whom were not even aware of their own participation. However, the following line, “…nature-like, no two things are the same-.” explains how no two people or things are the same, implying that there is no need for game. The last line in the second stanza, “Whatever is remarkable is nicknamed,” exemplifies how remarkable things are eventually corrupted and condemned. Nicknames are humorously used to pervasively insult or change an individual’s

worth.
“And thinks of warring Greeks, whose threats, Stratagems, confusions, deeds though met,” continues Wormser’s theme of battling life.

The author chooses to compare the the hardships of warring Greek to the hardships of people living on a smaller scale. “On a smaller scale are yet quiveringly real.” This line states that no matter who you are, your hardships are as real as someone’s fighting in an actual battle. Furthermore, no one has the right to tell you that your problems are irrelevant compared to other individuals. The last two lines of the stanza figuratively describes how in life it is player against player and how the concept of competition is exciting. “Player against player on a simple field, It’s the keenness of conflict that appeals.”
The fifth stanza question relates to the poet’s conception of success and how it is attained and determined. The first line, “To the citizen so sick of the abstract “they,” describes how many Americans are tired of individuals saying their success is derived from the help of others. Wormser’s conception of success that it is “neither created nor feigned.” Achievement is not created, pretended, but within. In America no day goes wasted or pitied.”Here, there is no such thing as a beggared

day.”
As a baseball flies toward you, you have only two options. You can either hit or catch it, “And strength emerges as a catch or a hit.” Strength can be weakened and intercepted by a catch or strengthened and propelled by a hit. I believe Wormser used this expression as an analogy similar to a “hit or miss” situation. “Instinct, confidence, and wit” is always present within an individual, but is only exhibited in the presence of tremendous strength. These attributes are indicative and customary.
Nonetheless, Baron Wormser also perceives that success is related to luck. “And yet as much a mystery as luck.” Americans are allured and strive to obtain a tangible future. Wormser implies that an individual’s success may derive from luck and that people should not be shocked by this bizarre possibility. This is because many Americans believe that success can only be achieved by hard work and dedication, and never by chance.
The last stanza simply states that a baseball, a symbol for life, continuously rises and falls. Wormser ends the poem with “The unpredictable, adroit rhyme of it all.” This final line perfectly illustrates how life is unpredictable, astute, and swinging fast. Lastly, I believe Wormser chose the phrase “adroit rhyme” to depict how individuals need to play to the rhyme of their own life and not compete with the unpredictable lives of the people around them. People can either make a home run or strike out, the decision is theirs.