"A Three Point Shot from Andromeda"

Rain rusted orange
ring of saturn
in urban orbit
over an outdoor gym

nighttime jumpers
pull up to the hoop
dance on the rim
bolted against a metal backboard sky
riddled with ninety nine thousand
BB sized holes
compressing fifth floor duplex
kitchen light
into a galaxy
of 50 watt schoolyard stars

supra flex intense constellations
handcheck
rotate on defense
double down
tryin to guard
spinning playground
planetarium delirium
of black gods flyin
on neighborhood rep
shake n bake
pump fake
jab step
past orion
walk on air
and burst a reverse
on the stellar bear


- Paul Beatty

I like basketball. I like this poem. This poem is about basketball, therefore I like it. I also like the imagination and creativity of reaching into the stars for something you want. I mean, it doesn't get much cooler than intergalactic space dudes playing basketball.
It's also fun to see how someone can take something so ordinary and turn it into something "out of this world."