The basketball court glistens
to meet the sneaker soles. Urban youth
pace across the gym, intensifying
the rhythm of their movements.
On those Friday evenings,
unruly teens assemble to gaze
at their peers breathing harder
in the athletic environment.
Everyone is position-less.
There is no distinct center
exclusively manning the post
with two jobs: rebounds and blocks.
This is the new style of basketball,
skill versus skill. All the players
on the hardwood, playmaking,
running the ball shooting swishes
into the net. Before the game concludes,
the senior cheerleaders
come flipping, enhancing the court,
their acrobatic motions captivating
the crowd, the gym, the players.
Soulely Spoken 