In the Knick of time

It was Saturday morning on June 13

and we were packing.

We found my old phones and my first ipod

I was flooded with memories.

I remember the phones I used

since I arrived in New York

I remember walking in the streets of New York,

riding buses and subways listening to CDs

I remember my ipod that was engraved.

The players played in New York.

Played in the court of dreams.

They ran and stop, jumped, dribbled and passed

the one ball in their hand.

I came to the US in 1999

I remember 2 years later

I moved to New York

I remember the Linsanity of 2012

when a Harvard boy

took the Knicks on a winning streak

Basketball is a game I see in the street

I pass by basketball courts

next to subways and kids playgrounds

Everyone plays ball

Girls and boys

Short and tall

Young and old

even children learned to walk and talk

when they played ball.

My own little girl when she was a toddler played ball

because it is not just exclusive for grown men with balls

Players played not just for a goal

Not just for fitness

but for comraderie and sheer joy

but there are moments in time

nobody can ignore

like when the OG did the Hail Mary

to throw a ball in a basket.

They were buried in defeat

But he took the shot

1.2 seconds before the game ended

On the 13th of June

One man paraded in court

in number 11 Jersey shirt

In the court of dreams, he scored 45

The 53 years of drought ended

when we believe.

As my child played with kids in the playground,

As I walk in the streets of New York,

in my shell embroidered blue blouse and orange sneakers

I remember the many walks I made near and far.

I remember the ballgames players play

Ball games be it basketball, football,

volleyball, tennis, hockey or baseball.

These are games for All.

We cheer for the players, we dance and sing.

We share in the joy they bring.