Game 65

CHI 109               TOR 107

Roman
Shakes his head,
Looking down.

The kids around him laugh.

He turns to me:

Man, Mr. M--
In the playoff game last night--
I got dunked on.

The room erupts.

Roman blushes.
But he also knows I’ve got his back.

And that I get it.

You know who doesn’t get dunked on?  I say--

People who don’t defend.

You know who doesn’t get dunked on?
People sitting on the bench.
Or in their rooms.

Or wherever.

The other kids
Stop laughing

And Roman cracks a smile.

Man,
Being dunked on
Is how you know you’re in the game.

---

Haiku

You may look better
Sitting on the bench, but you
Will not get better. *


*Except for when you’re injured