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David James Duncan's essay "A Mickey Mantle Koan" was a very heart felt story.
This story was written by a little brother (David) about his big brother (John) who had an
obsession about baseball. John had a bad heart which took his life at the age of 17. John's
hero was Mickey Mantle and an autographed baseball from Mantle arrived on the day
John was buried. Duncan describes a life time of puzzling about the symbolism of the
baseball as his Koan.
The author describes the loss of his brother and how much he missed him. He
focuses on the baseball, thinking it represents his why his brother was taken from him.
"for weeks, months, years, every time I saw those nine blithely blue- inked words they
knocked me off balance like a sudden shove from behind." (Duncan) The simple presence
of the ball is a riddle to him.
The author sees the ball as what he has left of his brother, He realizes he does not
need a ball to remember his brother. "But who's to say we need a old ball to be happy?
Who's to say we couldn't do with less? Who's to say we couldn't still be happy with no
ball at all?" (Duncan) The author finds his answer while watching a flick, and it sets him
at peace.
A "Mickey Mantle Koan" had to do with two brothers, One who died and the other
who was grieving and riddling about the loss of his brother. The baseball (koan)
symbolizes to him a reason why his brother died. He eventually found the answer and
moved on.

Work Cited Page

Duncan, David James. A Mickey Mantle Koan. 13 Sept. 2007. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. http://
/www.brunswick.k12.me.us/