Poetry Jam: Haikus inspired by 'NBA Jam'

One does not question how and when the Muse strikes.

Photo by Tim Leong

The game that mixed the excitement of NBA basketball with the pulse-pounding competitive intensity of a Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam has earned a place in the annals of gaming history.

It’s also earned the following poetic tribute on occasion of the 30th anniversary of its debut. Please enjoy.

Barkley dunks the ball

Glass rains down like jagged snow

Boomshakalaka!

Seconds left to go

And at the buzzer! No good!

Now the crying starts

“Jamal Mashburn’s mine.”

“Be Derek Harper instead.”

Fight! Now no one wins

"Nail in the coffin!" 

Loss. Hi, humiliation. 

We meet one more time.

I make one shot first

Then two unanswered slam dunks

Now I am on fire

Shaq shoots for three points

It never goes in, not once

Can’t buy a bucket.

"Spectacular dunk!"

This is the closest I'll get 

To dunking myself.

Pippen bricks the three

Then the buzzer buzzes. Dang. 

That stupid cheat code.

My turbo’s draining

Should I make that sick dunk now?

Yes, right in his face. 

Tim, it's not the shoes. 

It's all pixels and circuits. 

This is all a lie.