Ghosts of the Playground By Jasen Sousa

Ghosts of the Playground


Remaining leaves try to
crawl over basketball court fences,
I walk past the park, step
over bones scattered on asphalt.

I see Earl “The Goat” Manigault
stand on a ladder and thread a net
through iron tassels on a rusty rim.

I see Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland
with a broom, he sweeps dirt
and sand towards the sidelines.

I see James “Fly” Williams
with a paint brush, he touches up the key
and makes it glow once again.

I see Lewis “Black Magic” Lloyd
with a tape measure, he makes sure
the rim is 10-feet-tall.

I see Herman “Helicopter” Knowings
wipe dust off the top of backboards.

I see Curtis “CJ” Jones
throw away broken beer bottles
and syringes.

I see Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond
slam down thunderous jams,
“Seems fine to me.”

People walking by bump into me
and point out how much the baskets
shake from the wind.

Now I know who prepares
the courts for nice weather.




Taken From
Humming Eternity By Jasen Sousa (Written During Emerson College Era)
©