The Free Throw

***

It was a thing of beauty

my ten year old
at the foul line
two sharp dribbles
and a pause
right arm perpendicular
to the ground
left hand resting lightly
on the side of the ball
a fluid movement
from crouch
to full extension
a flick of the wrist
ball rotating backwards
in an exquisite arc
nestling into the net

like a baby in its mother's arms.

***