The Church of Michael Jordan
Rent from DeepDyve- The Church of Michael Jordan
The hoop is not metal, but a pair of outstretched arms,God’s arms, joined at the fingers. And God is saying
throw it to me. It’s not a ball anymore. It’s an orange prayerI’m offering with all four chambers. And the other players—
the Pollack of limbs, flashing hands and teeth—are just temptations, obstacles between me and the Lord’s light.
Once during an interview I slipped, I didn’t pray well tonight,and the reporter looked at me, the same one who’d called me
a baller of destiny, and said you mean play, right? Of course,I nodded. Don’t misunderstand—I’m no reverend
of the flesh. Priests embarrass me. A real priestwouldn’t put on that robe, wouldn’t need the public
affirmation. A real priest works in disguise, leadsby example, preaches with his feet. Yes, Jesus walked on water,
but how about a staircase of air? And when the clockis down to its final ticks, I rise up and over the palms
of a nonbeliever—the whole world watching, thinkingit can’t be done—I let the faith roll off my fingertips, the ball [End Page 52]
drunk with backspin, a whole stadium of people holdingthe same breath simultaneously, the net flying up like a curtain,
the lord’s truth visible for an instant, converting nonbelieversby the bushel, who will swear for years they’ve witnessed a miracle. [End Page 53]
Jeffrey McDaniel is the author of five books of poetry, most recently Chapel of Inadvertent Joy (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013). His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including Best American Poetry 1994 and 2010. He was a 2011 nea fellowship recipient. He teaches at Sarah Lawrence College.
