This is the sound of body hitting floor—
the head attempting to avoid landing, snapping
back in mid-flight. The impact much faster

than vision could catch—the eyes just can’t
surpass the unavoidable sleight of seeing,
of knowing the true heaviness of falling.

There will come a time as the air separates
the flesh from the hardwood, as the bodies
turn to stone, as the eyes discover fear,

we’re going face-to-face with unreal adversity
as the face, in ultimate shock, surrenders.
This is the nature of things. Everything is sudden,

shaken as everyone relearns the sound of falling.
The insufferable weight of a whole nation
down on its knees, bodies embracing landing,

and that is where I am. In the air of a prayer
where the eyes become a fraction of the heart,
an improbable flight happens because we are.

It will come through for us.

***

Being a sports fan can be so casually poetic sometimes. Here's to Pietrus getting better. Cheers.