Where I Live Now
faces due west and the setting Texas sun
irradiates me on the tiny patio
in infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray.
I brown in the evening light.
Fuck daylight savings, anyway.
The young man is back agin, solo,
shooting hoops on the south end
of the full court amenity next to
the useless tennis court (no net, no tennis).
He is browned by middle eastern genetics,
perhaps, and no one ever joins him.
I am tempted, but much too old and fat
and tired in my bones. He makes
maybe sixty percent of his shots.
Strong off the boards up close, okay
from the high school three point line,
but terrible from the mid-range
that promises nothing but a nod
to the two points scored. A co-ed,
light- skinned fivesome claims the north end
of the court and the young man disappears.
I watch from protected distance,
invisible to anyone under fifty as
the five become eight. The old
dynamics, still in play in 21st century
Plano, Texas. Nothing changes but the settings
and the gizmos used to document the scene.
strong piece *
Great commentary on life.
*
Good poem. Strong end.
*
nyway?
"browned by middle eastern genetics"
Me too.*
*, Gary. Nice work.
***
I see this so clear.*
*
Thank you, Neil.
Thank you, Paul.
Thank you, Jerry.
Thank you, Bill. "nyway" is cell-phone thumb trip for "anyway".
Error corrected!
Thank you, Amanda.
Thank you, David.
Thank you, James.
Thank you, Tim.
Thank you, Sam.
Fascinating voyeuristic ride, and this: "Nothing changes but the settings and the gizmos used to document the scene." *
Thank you, Matt.
"the full court amenity" Love the real estate speak, and "I watch from protected distance,
invisible to anyone under fifty." I feel you brother.
Thank you, Steve.
Another stage through which one morphs on the way to the big game.***
Thank you, Brenda.
Ah...lived in Texas. Feel I have seen this before...nice.
Thank you, Kitty.