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Explore the Craft of Writing Light Verse A Definition Poem is used in classrooms and workshops as a creative writing exercise. It begins with the statement "A (noun) is ", followed by descriptions of the noun in metaphor or imagery. The frame is at the discretion of the poet although it is usually written in free verse. Tome by Judi Van Gorder Poetry is words in a line time in black on white, plum blossoms in winter snowflakes in July tears on a page magic It's In the Refrigerator by Judi Van Gorder NBA basketball is an athlete's ballet. Graceful giants twist and leap to the thrum of We will, We will, Rock You!. It is driving to the hole, weaving through tall trees at full speed for the layup or roundball rodeo, a sphere arcs from half court to swish through an 18-inch ring 10 feet off the ground. It is D-E-F-E-N-S-E, take the charge, protect the paint, hand in the face pick, block, steal, big bodies bar the way. A lifetime in 24 seconds. Score or hit the rim, rebound or turn the ball over all in just about the same time it takes to read these words. NBA basketball is a whole list of Chickisms*. "nothing but net", "it's in the refrigerator, butter's gettin hard and the jello's jigglin'", "the mustard's off the hot dog", "he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar" and "Slam Dunk!" Adrenaline on a hardwood court, my winter retreat. *Chickisms, basketball terms used by most basketball commentators today, attributed to the late Chick Hearn 1916-2002, the voice of the LA Lakers.