Shooting Hoops

As the pick-up game started to unravel,
Sister Susan tucked up the black fabric
Into her black belt and told Mary Agnes,
"Stand here, next to the free-throw line and watch me."

Her shoes weren't suitable for the court
But she lofted a ball so sweetly
That it might have been floating
On the Holy Spirit, the one that
Sister talked about in
Second Period Religion class,

Waving her hands, even
Her eyes prophesized, as she
Sketched out the
Movements of the ghostly Third Person.

Mary Agnes stepped up to
The free throw line, "Like this?" she
Asked, as the round ball rimmed the basket.

Sister said, "Keep your elbows easy,"
And they worked for three more hours,
Hammering the bronze of muscle memory, until
The shadows ghosted the free-throw line
And Mary Agnes learned the meaning of devotion.