Out on the court
basketball game is on
late afternoon sun
still beating down
double dribble perspiration
Gabriella watches with smoldering eyes
those boys on the court
running up and down
wolf loud, pack proud
playing too rough
shoulder jabs, fleet flying
these boys right tough
but she can shoot a ball
mid-court too
ain’t got nothin’ on her
but that cut edge
she can weave too
in and out of their game
so she darts in
face to face with Julio
he scorns her briefly
that girl acting like
she got game
oughtta know her place
she ain’t gonna out dribble him
cause he dances on soccer balls
arms like golden sand
he’s a puma with a ball
crowd gathers
the neighborhood evening time
grill smoke fills thick air
ice cream van is comin’
London Bridge is falling down
blaring from static speakers
no quinceanera for Gabriella
she’s not that girl
she is on the court
Mario, Quint, Dylan, Alvaro, Jose….
shuffle around her
wolverine walking
shark-sharp, tough boys
but they are no match for her
painted nails, winged eyeliner
eyes narrowing
Julio beating down the court
jump then fake-shot pass
ball rolls the rim without a net
Quint surprises her with the rebound
a perfect shot she has
she’s bringing game and desire
proving them wrong
proving that’s her place too
I wish I was that girl
all youth and golden
all fire and speed
all power and passion
the girl that owns the team
dances salsa past curfew
brings the heat
beats the boys…
One can feel the beat and pace in your words. Girls can do it!
Thank you, and they surely can!
I always think a piece of literature is great when it can capture the interest of someone who may not normally be interested in the subject matter (sports) and you’ve definitely done that here for me. “Singing me and Julio down by the school yard…”
Thank you Marissa, that’s a great compliment. Oh that song, I so remember that song, I had forgotten but would fit nicely with this 🙂
This is so in the moment. Our eyes are on the girl burning up the court, but the background details make it so real: I can almost feel the hot sun, smell the charcoal, hear the ice cream truck. Well done, Lana 🙂
Thank you so much…I used to try to write stories, then poetry, now I write stories in poetry, ha ha!
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
I want to be that girl too! Well done. Basketball isn’t my favorite, but this is enthralling!!
Thanks so much…(I was a basketball player, ha ha).
It is all in the details, Lana. You could write screenplays, with your descriptions of the scenery so evocative. You make it “real!”