Free Throws

free throws.

—

hoping

to shoot

my shot

at hope.

—

for only things

she knows.

—

she knows.

—

at the line.

nobody

guarding me.

—

still feel

the pressure.

—

cuz the answer

ain’t

in my hands

when the ball

leaves.

—

when

the ball leaves…

so does

certainty.

—

the scoreboard

keeps track.

—

a make.

a miss.

—

no line

in the middle

to draw

what effort is.

—

no guarantee

it goes in

when i prepared

1000 shots

before

the shot.

—

it doesn’t count

the practice.

it counts

the outcome.

—

but when

i shoot

the free throw,

—

it isn’t

a free throw.

—

it’s the cost

of every foul

that brought me

to the line.

—

every practice shot.

every miss.

every almost.

—

by the time

i’m standing there,

i already paid.

—

so when

the ball leaves

my hands,

—

all i can do

is watch

what it costs

to hope.


— Mr. Mak


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