What rhymes with Moustakas? Send us your poems about the Royals

The Royals have made the postseason

And fans, that gives us a reason

To ask for your lines (your cheers or your whines)

Team poetry: Isn’t that pleasin’?

Yes, talented readers, in the epic tradition of Odysseus, Gilgamesh and Casey at the Bat, we’re asking you to write about our hometown heroes, our Boys in Blue, in verse.

After all, the Boston Red Sox have their own poet laureate, Dick Flavin, who is also a PA announcer at Fenway Park. Perhaps you heard him on NPR earlier this year, reading his ode to Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski:

… I’ve lain awake nights, I’ve done the research, but found not one rhyme. I am left in the lurch.

There just is no rhyme to go with Yastrzemski, and take that from one who has made the attemptski.

That sets a high bar, but, Kansas City, we know you can reach it and clear it. As with pretty much all other Major League Baseball teams, the Royals don’t have their own poet laureate. But we know you fans can fill that gap and inspire our team to victory. Or, at least, artistry. Like so:

Lorenzo Cain, his catches are insane!

Or challenge yourself:

Mike Moustakas, with him no one can mock us!

Perhaps you can do better.

Send us your poems — couplets, short ballads, limericks, haiku, what have you — by Oct. 1, and we’ll publish our favorites before the first pitch is thrown in the American League Division Series. The writer of the best entry will win a $50 prize.

Email the poems to starfyi@gmail.com. Be sure to put “Royals poetry” in the subject line and include your name, city and a phone number in case we need to call you.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 3:38 PM with the headline "What rhymes with Moustakas? Send us your poems about the Royals."