a poem on athleticism

Look at You - 
You Don't Know How to Play Basketball

you're not even moving

with apathetic motions you force

heavy feet around the court

not because they are inherently sluggish

but because they are unversed in this particular play.

the confidence and determination i see in you

kicking a soccer ball in detrimental moments or light-hearted games

has vanished and in its place is

unsteady effort to pass the time with friends -

leaning in to your ball-holding counterpart

with a cheeky grin of mutual understanding.

the civil competition will end

and you will walk to the lunchroom

to combine your comrades and anecdotes with mine

and we will sit at a round table exchanging playful banter

before all will go their separate ways

and you and i will end up alone

cuddled on a familiar couch in your apartment across town

watching late-night television and speaking little more than

to whisper the occasional reminder when we feel its been too long

since the last indication of love

and when our eyes grow heavy

and the shows begin to bore our tired ears

we will save just enough energy to listen to

a few more whispers in the dark as we fall to sleep

side by side and completely disregarding of the fact

that you don't know how to play basketball.

(jb)