CHI 88 DET 82
Detroit and Chicago
were once cities known for their factories and slaughterhouses
were once cities known for their factories and slaughterhouses
2:22 left in the first
Pistons over the foul limit
Bulls in the bonus
The whistle
A relief
To everyone--
A chance to breathe
10 men
Slowly walk the length of the floor
Toward the free throw stripe
Still very early
In what will be
A long grinding night
A few years back
Taking a road trip with her best friend
From childhood
My mother
Found herself in a Memphis hotel lobby
Making small talk
With the stranger
In the Bulls shirt
Oh, are you a Bulls fan?
I’m visiting from Chicago
Well, actually, Ma’am,
I’m one of their coaches
She saw them
Filing out--
Narrow elevator
To Narrow bus
Giant
Elegant
Beasts
But men
Scarred
Scabbed
Bleeding men
Responding to her thank yous
With nods and smiles
They all seemed so tired-- she said
Every one of them was limping
Pistons over the foul limit
Bulls in the bonus
The whistle
A relief
To everyone--
A chance to breathe
10 men
Slowly walk the length of the floor
Toward the free throw stripe
Still very early
In what will be
A long grinding night
A few years back
Taking a road trip with her best friend
From childhood
My mother
Found herself in a Memphis hotel lobby
Making small talk
With the stranger
In the Bulls shirt
Oh, are you a Bulls fan?
I’m visiting from Chicago
Well, actually, Ma’am,
I’m one of their coaches
She saw them
Filing out--
Narrow elevator
To Narrow bus
Giant
Elegant
Beasts
But men
Scarred
Scabbed
Bleeding men
Responding to her thank yous
With nods and smiles
They all seemed so tired-- she said
Every one of them was limping
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