After reading “The Pitcher” by Robert Francis, consider how the poem itself works the way a good pitcher does. Which lines illustrate what they describe? +300 words
The poem “The Pitcher” by Robert Francis is a striking metaphor of how the act and skill of pitching can be extended to life itself. Through its presentation, Francis masterfully crafts his lines so that they work in the same way a good pitcher does: with precision and finesse.
One such example of this is found in the line “He works as though there were no margin/of error or room for doubt”, which perfectly captures how a pitcher must approach their job, not allowing themselves any leeway in order to deliver an effective pitch. This attention to detail and focus on getting it right every time is essential to success on the field and this line accurately conveys that sentiment. Likewise, this is mirrored in life where one must stay focused and put in effort if they want to succeed; something evident from this line alone.
Francis further drives home his point with his use of imagery such as “as simple as breathing…an instrument attuned’s perfection” showing us how easy it should be (for someone who has trained) to throw each pitch just right – much like living should become second nature after years of practice under our belt. It paints a vivid image of someone who goes about their task precisely but naturally – again linking back into real-life examples where nothing comes easy but dedication pays off eventually allowing us gain control over our lives, piece by piece until it becomes effortless..
To conclude, Robert Francis’ “The Pitcher” brings together two seemingly disparate ideas together into one beautiful analogy using clever wording throughout the poem: words which are integral for understanding its message yet still able convey an effective parallel between baseball pitchers and everyday life without fail.. From start to finish it succeeds at conveying its overall theme while still managing capture those nuances needed for understanding what makes up successful pitchers — exactly like the ones described here!