I KEEP TALKING TO THE BALL

I wear sweat like another shirt
On my basketball uniform
Tear stained memories
Envelop my mind AND
I keep talking to the ball.
Since you walked away from me
The court has become my home
I remain here as long as possible
To heal my sorrows AND
I keep talking to the ball.
Yesterday I took off
From the free throw line
To shoot a jump shot
My soul just flew away AND
I keep talking to the ball.
It was you who taught me the game
How to hold it, guard it, dribble it
You told me to talk to the ball AND
I KEEP TALKING TO THE BALL.
As the dusk is falling
The whole world is going home
I see your face in the ball AND
I keep talking to the ball.

I REACH FOR YOU AS YOU FAKE AND SHOOT

Once upon a time
I was young and strong
Now I am old and slow
I reach for you
As you fake and shoot
You turn back and smile at me
`CATCH ME IF YOU CAN'
Once upon a time --

I remember the day
You walked into my life
And dribbled the ball
I ran alongside to explain
THE PRINCIPLE OF EXTENSION OF BODY
You thought it was a joke
Once upon a time --

I remember the day
You tried the lay-ups
Frustrated and angry
You threw the ball away
I kept doing lay-ups in front of you
And then you came back
Successfully completed the lay up
And shouted with joy
Once upon a time --

You were over the moon
When you shot your first three pointer
And envied me
As I shot one after another continuously
I was surprised next day
When at the crack of dawn
I saw you shooting and practicing
Once upon a time --

Your first match
That you lost by a huge margin
Your tears - your frustration
Were like whip-marks on my soul
But step by step I explained
WHY YOU LOST?
Once upon a time --

And then an announcement
YOU HAD BEEN SELECTED
IN THE SENIOR TEAM
A journey began for you
I blended into the back-ground
I was happy - YOU WERE HAPPY
Once upon a time --

Memories over lap
But I remember your successes
For it was my success
Teaching bug bit me
And I trained thousands
A joyful tear glistened
In the corner of my eye
Whenever your name was taken
Once upon a time --

Today, I heard
You are coming to the court
So I wore my playing dress
And here I am
I see you across the court
AS ALWAYS YOU ARE IN THE OPPOSITE TEAM
I reach for you
As you fake and shoot.

AS I RELEASED THE BALL - I CALLED OUT YOUR NAME!

As I released the ball
I called out your name
Without you in the court
How could I play any game
I dribble the ball and look at you
The hasty eye-contact and looking away
The fake that I looked at you
I stake the lane and put an easy lay up
As I released the ball
I called out your name
You entered as a substitute
In the opposite team
I allowed you an easy steal
How could I block your shot
And forgive myself
As you released the ball
I wanted to know your name
I had played tough in my life
I had played rough in my life
The game I played with you
Was to lose from you
And win your heart
As I jumped in the air
And you followed me up
With both arms fully stretched
I knew I wouldn't come down again
As I released the ball
I asked you - your name
You laughed and walked away
Although I wanted you to stay
My team and the coach teased me
For losing my heart and the game
As I released the ball
I called out your name.
It is forty years since
I still keep playing ball
Hoping you will one day walk in
And tell me your name
Today as I released the ball
I came to know your name.