Black guys are playing basketball

to impress white girls who don’t even like basketball.

& I’m there too with some black chicks

who get stared at by old white men

t-shirts tucked into their underwear 

and both sticking out of their wranglers.

there. . .on the side

hiding beers in my hat and talking courtside shit 

with everyone who passes by

sneaking a smoke and telling jokes about the referee

who passes dirty glances at me while missing chances to make calls

while fake gangsters loom in the back

and seeing who could wear their pants

the lowest below their ass

which I would gladly kick for them

if they only had the balls to make eye contact.

The rhythm, the voice the voices

so many girls and not many choices

but I’m not on the court today

which means I may as well be invisible

except to some of the Spanish girls who are there

because they’re tired of watching their guys play soccer.

Down here, color is only important if you can’t play

& my game musters enough to be able to watch here

Down here, Black girls say I’m here for the game

Down here, White girls say I’m here for the guys,

Old men wish they weren’t old

so they could be there for the girls

& I’m here because I really like basketball.

Sunday afternoon, Neahwa Park.