.
.
The statue of Pan reigns over the plateau
cars disappear around a bend & over the hillside
spilling from Hogan's Fountain, pan-flute in hand,
Leo, by the basketball courts in Cherokee Park,
"semi-mythical" is his eye & in it two young men
in a black Fiat. In himself a grand gesture.
.
The like and unlike chestnut, June-day;
musk and resonance in the heavy air,
ozone (pre-blight), & parked near
June-leaves possessing each periphery
in the heat; Green and greenest.
To the left, another car pulls up
&parks, still, then a younger man w/ball
in hand runs in sweatpants onto the court.
.
The [wind blows in guts] as he shoots.
Caroms off the rim in a flush.
In Marine fatigues, the farther field
and a Semper Fi t-shirt, a man approches from
the endurance course. He'll play.
.
Leo opens, descends, to stretch his limbs, his door
causes a quiver. & parked, is allowed to, glance.
.
Dark clouds, sunbursts through, bow down,
bursts light, then Leo jets
a shot and a gust, the basketball
and wind is at his feet.
He smiles. The ball rolls offcourt
to end beside the black car.
The ballplayer runsover, self-conscious,
ruddy smiles sees grins back
And stoops to retrieve it over down.
.
The Marine walks beneath Olmsted pavillion
to wipe his face in water before heading
onto the court, and picks a spot to take a shot.
A game, happens, fullcourt, in presence of others,
run, god run, run. it's Leo.
.
The Marine is no ordinary tough.
Has the bearing of an educated man who
might've been playing Marine --
however devotedly.
He registers neither contempt nor warmth,
and enjoys being admired by any nearby,
gives only warmth of his effort as reward.
The precursor, and the dispassionate,
The shot a swish, he joins the game.
.
.
[end]
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