The following poem was written by Juan A. Pérez in memory of Roberto Clemente.Roberto was the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder from 1955 to 1972. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico and died on New Year's Eve at the early age of 38 while on a mission to help the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua:
The Game's True Leaders
He played the game of childhood dreams with humble grace of mountain streams.
He learned so early through his time the selfless purpose of his life.
His human pride, his elegance, not in a hundred years surpassed.
From far away gave us a gift, too valuable to leave adrift.
Some saw the game as being the end he knew the end and played, he played!
When in the face of human pain some wasted time, he ran and helped.
For all who saw and didn't know they were in front of royal grace, a modest place
where rivers wed saved us a wall of right field fence.
On holidays of cheer and joy when smiles abound for girl and boy, there is a town
down by the sea where grown men cry on new year's eve.
Remind me game of boyhood dreams that men of grace knew how to play.
The game's true leaders learn early in time the selfless purpose of their lives.
