Fast Break SOAPSTone
Subject
How a fast break basket
is made during a game.
"an underhand pass toward the
other guard scissoring past a
flat-footed defender"
"and swiveling back to see an
orange blur floating perfectly
through the net."
Occasion
The stands of a basketball
game. How teamwork is
demonstrated.
"and filling the lanes in tandem,
moving together as brothers
passing the ball"
"by himself now and laying
it gently against the glass
for a lay-up,"
Audience
Basketball Fans/Players/Coaches
"both forwards racing down
the court the way that forwards
should, fanning out"
"by himself now and laying
it gently against the glass
for a lay-up,"
Purpose
How a fast break works.
How much is done in
a short amount of
time.
"in slow motion, almost
exactly like a coach’s
drawing on the blackboard,"
"while the power-forward
explodes past them in a fury,
taking the ball into the air"
Speaker
Commentator from a basketball
game.
"who looks stunned and nailed
to the floor in the wrong direction,
trying to catch sight"
"until the guard finally lunges out
and commits to the wrong man"
Tone
Joyful tone. Many basketball fans
might think of their favorite team
during this poem, making a
fast break.
"A hook shot kisses the rim and
hangs there, helplessly, but
doesn’t drop,"
"and swiveling back to see an
orange blur floating perfectly
through the net."
Reaction
The first thing I noticed is that this poem doesn't contain any periods. I think the author didn't use any periods throughout the poem because, during a fast break there isn't any stopping, just like this poem. This whole poem basically used imagery to demonstrate how a fast break is done during a basketball game. The author slowed down the action of a fast break to reveal to us everything in greater detail. Even though the author gave us visual detail it made me feel like I was actually in the game.
J.O Cruz