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Rebound

Players pour down the court
pooling under the basket.
Offense and defense propel
each other
hunter and prey.
I slip, slide, cut,
run the play by the book.
I'm in and back out,
squirming through holes.
Don't follow me.

The last man plunges
towards the pool with the treasure.
Hooks around a corner
like a rabbit leaping to his hole,
slashes into the center.
Plants, rises,
extends now, gliding lightly through rough bodies,
one arm poised to shoot, the other extended for balance,
releases.

Sweating players,
human chess
struggling for a precious space.
Above the rim
bouncing delicately tapping, indecisive rolling,
a fish flipping back into the water
leather on steel.
Playing its own rhythm,
bounce, hop, hop, roll,
to fall or not.

The work below never ceases.
Expectant hands rise.
Extended above the rest,
the victor snags the floating spoils.
Clutching it to his chest.
Like death coming on a cold night,
the mass washes over him.

Players pour down the court
pooling under the basket.

Learn more about this author, Joe Symmes.
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