The Rocket's collected works.

On Wednesday, baseball great Roger Clemens stood before the U.S. Congress, seeking to defend his honor and his soul. History will decide whether Clemens told the truth in denying a former trainer's claim that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

But one point is clear: In his testimony and depositions, the Rocket has hurled a poetic masterpiece, with a repertoire that ranges from free-form verse to haiku. The poems that follow are the pitcher's exact words, excerpted from transcripts of Wednesday's testimony (PDF) and the deposition (PDF) the pitcher gave to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform earlier this month.

"Saving the House"

It was a sports court.
I enclosed that into a gym.
Best investment ever, by the way.
It's saved the house from the kids.

—Feb. 5, 2008, deposition

"Offensive Haiku"

I am offended.
I will be honest with you.
I am offended.

—Feb. 5, 2008, deposition

"Ghost Andy"

He looked at me,
Wringing his hands,
White as a ghost

And asked me
What are you going
To tell them?

And I told him
I'm going out there
To tell the truth.

—Feb. 13, 2008, hearing