
Grip Notch
[Verse 1: Trenching keel-rib male MC, trenching, heavy] Shed door stuck half open on a batting cage lot Old bats in a barrel and a smell of pine and rot I came for a spare and found the one with black tape Ridges every inch like a calendar someone shaped Five turns, then a jump, then six, then seven clean Dad's hands grew through summers I had never seen I knew that spacing from a doorframe in the hall He marked my height in pencil; this bat marked his all [Hook: Trenching keel-rib male MC, loud, trenching] Empty notch waiting where my hand should land Tape ridges under dust the shed never planned I came to borrow lumber, left with a spine Rebuild around the gap that measured out his time [Verse 2: Trenching keel-rib male MC, trenching, colder] Cage coach said toss the old ones, cheaper in a week I said this bat stays, wrap around the peak They laughed until I rubbed the tape and showed the scale Dad's wrap, dad's hand, dad's numbers in the trail He hit here when the lights were half the brightness now I never asked the stories, now the grip fills in how Trenching quiet through a job that wants a clean replace Some bats are receipts you do not dare erase [Verse 3: Trenching keel-rib male MC, tape ridge, trenching] Palm finds tape ridge, empty notch catches cage light Tape-ridge tick holds while I wrap one new turn right Five turns even, then the gap that meant a growth I say his name once soft and that is growth enough I leave the bat in place and leave the notch I made Paint of sweat stops before it like a border laid Coach shrugs and marks the keep without a speech Some rebuilds are a son who finally learns to reach [Bridge: Trenching keel-rib male MC, loud, trenching] Keep the bat, wrap the rest Tape ridge, father in the wood chest Cage hum, summer high His measure is the reason I try [Hook: Trenching keel-rib male MC, loud, trenching] Empty notch waiting where my hand should land Tape ridges under dust the shed never planned I came to borrow lumber, left with a spine Rebuild around the gap that measured out his time [Outro: Trenching keel-rib male MC, quiet heavy, tape-ridge tick rings out and fades] Tape ridge, still swinging Tell the cage we keep clinging [End]

