Alone on the concrete
As the dawn begins
The echo of the ball against the pavement
Is the only sound
My head rises
As I cross the chipped paint arch
And press the ball harder
Down into the ground
Faster- Double time-
Two fast steps and I pull
Up from the cement
I rise-
Feet pressing up
Knees extending
Arms gliding up
Until I am free of gravity
As the ball floats to the hoop
The world is silent
Perfect
The day in its rising arch
And Fall
The rattle of hoop and backboard break the spell
And now it is time to work
Spaceman's Pancakes 