“Damn kids,” he said
And he slammed the basketball
Down on the floor
So hard that it slapped it
Like a slap in the face
And it was bright red-but glossy,
And the shine filled the worn floorboards
And the sound reverberated out-
Blossomed out-
Rippled out
And hit the walls and bounced back
Like the ball
Until there was nothing left to hear
And no squeak of the shoes or swish of the net
Or yells or “Pass”
Or “I’m open!”
Or slaps on the back
Just nothing
The empty sound of silence
The ball rolled away- down the hall
He said nothing, and his face was carved and stolen
And so we left
And we left the championship
That was the day we gave up
That was the day where we lost the trophy
That was
The day when we couldn’t
stay gold.