Tell Us Your Story

Play
By Lisa Wallace
Wallpower@hotmail.com

When you ask me why I play, I'll tell you.
I play because I love to.
I play because the girl beside me plays too.
I play for my coach
and my teammates.
I play because I've never known any better.
I play for the name on my front
and I do it with class.
I never forget to play for the name on my back
and I do it with pride.
I play because one day my brother tossed me a ball.

When you ask me why I play, I'll tell you.
I play because I can.
I play because there are people who can't
and why not?
I play for my mom who used to play too
and I play for my dad who sees himself in me.
I play because it's easy,
natural,
and fun.
I play because someone is watching.
Someone that has never played before
and one day they'll play too, even if only in their dreams.

When you ask me why I play, I'll tell you.
I play because every time I step on the court there is chance;
the chance to win,
the chance to push someone to a new level.
A chance to show someone something they've never seen before.
And maybe that someone is a little girl
or someone's mother or grandmother.
I play because there is a spark;
a spark within each of us that is only lit by play.
I play because that spark is magical.
And that magic is worth it;
the hours, the bruises, the time.

When you ask me why I play, I'll tell you.
I play because I just got here
and because I am leaving soon.
because you grow old when you don't.
I play because no one else plays like me;
not the girl across the road, behind me in class,
or the ones I look up to.
No one plays the same.
Class, pride, front of my shirt and back,
little girl, mother, grandmother,
magic, dreams - that's why I play.
No matter who I become
I'll never forget to play.