To Kobe

By Nana Dadzie Ghansah

(I wrote this poem a few days after his last game on April 13, 2016. I included it in the collection of poetry I later published that year in a book titled “The Other Side”.)

Last night you dropped 60 —

Sure makes the eyes misty.

The years have been twenty;

Dude, the points quite plenty.

Those rings — you have five;

Those memories will thrive.

You worked hard at the game;

Without you it’s not the same.

You go out in style,

Highlights by the mile,

So even as the lights go out.

We all scream and shout

Mamba out!