Game 74

CHI 111               NY 80

Dedicated to the New York Knicks on the eve
of their franchise record 60th loss of the season

When I was a kid
Me and my friends
Got picked on
By a lot of people

The jocks
The preppies
The gang-bangers
The skinheads

Simple enough labels
For the moment--
Now long gone

We were the weirdos--
Musicians and drama kids, mostly
Openly vulnerable
Frayed wires exposed

They’re just jealous
Mom said

I never understood
Until just recently
That she was right
Sort of

In the (Jesus)
Twenty-two years
Since High School
Has ended
I've seen a lot of these kids
Grow up

Bumping into them
At grocery stores
And gas stations
And parties

I had promised myself
I’d hate these guys forever
Back when feelings worked that way

But look at them
Now

Slow and sad
Lost and late
Almost forgivable

Almost

I guess the game
Goes on a little longer
Than just 
A few possessions
Or games
Or seasons