Poem: Basketball Chi

I kayak down your black swirling creases

Polish your tiny orange bubbles

I sleep with you at night, hold you close

Dream of Jerry West making free throws

Wilt Chamberlain doing the finger roll

I inflate you by hand, your air pressure just right

Bouncing true: not too high, not too low

I twirl you on my index finger like a Globetrotter

Speak to with reverence, a spherical sun

Spalding, Wilson, Goaliath basketball hoops

Wrinkle thy cords, swoosh swoosh in the cool moonlight

With my eyes closed,

I release you from my grip.

©️mft