As family members look on,
Henry double-dunks two balls
and declares, “bassa-bah,”

in the new basket on the brightly
colored stand a bit taller than he is,
gleefully chasing the rollers-away

to retrieve ’em and dunk ’em again
on the same day the Knicks win
their first NBA championship

in 53 years. We grownups are
oblivious to the celebrations
in New York, so focused

on the red-haired boy and his
equally red-haired little sister
chasing down bassa-bahs

indoors at home to the cheers
of their loved ones, all of us
grinning through crumbly bites

of mini chocolate cupcakes—
could anything be sweeter?—
on this hot day in June.

•••

With thanks and love to my fam who made the babies,
one generation after another, and to us lucky aunts and uncs
who get to enjoy them!