In work boots and woolen Wigwams, you better
cherish the day and act like you know
we're a cold wind in summer trees at


Sligo Park. After all
the shins crossed up in Gainesville,


Bridget can be anybody


she can have off the dribble. Give

Tiny the ball in the cage and there's nothing

he won't do

if sunlight slips between strangers.

Shut Up and Play filled lanes in the flesh weave
at Nat Cole Park when L-No


fell in broken glass on the wing and you knew
you had Jone Jone trailing by sweat


beads in his used-to-be-your-woman's
perfume. She was here


she was here yesterday, sat off in the grass
like Sade sounds in the shade. Sweat.


Damned if something something just ain't right

about how we do each other wrong.


If you pass it to Ranger,
don't come around tomorrow. The only place

in town I know your pulse

before your name. If you see Shame, tell him we waited.

Remember the day we won three

straight? The sunset, your palm on fire, come down

in the chain net and never swore a sound

until Red and Ricky opened a trunk full


of joy and rain. You know me, I'll whisper it to you
and go right. Two bounce : you know why loving you is easy?


Slap the board on a crip? cause you're beautiful.


One death-still midnight in June,

we met alone under the streetlight spot

at center court. I asked about that heavy
hand


and you said Rough Shape was out there in the parking lot.
On Saturday, you showed up


with That Scratch, our shadows slow danced
in the lane and I tasted salt


from the smooth brown dome raised up on your neck.

Who else can tell them? About Maurice


at James Madison and the blood type of my shirt when I put
point in his eye. Last night, you wore my skin home


and it couldn't have meant less if I liked your punk $$#.