Answer:
A central theme of the poem is the strength displayed by the young men who play the game of basketball.
Explanation:
The poem Slam, Dunk, and Hook by Yusef Komunyakaa describe some young African Americans who play the game of basketball and the strength, energy, and vigor displayed by them. Descriptive and Sensory languages are word choices that appeal to our sense of sight, hearing, feeling, tasting, and touching. The poet uses this language to describe the vitality of these men. This can be seen in the following lines;
<em>'Nothing but </em><em>a hot
</em>
<em>Swish of strings like silk'</em><em> </em>
<em />
<em>Glistening with sweat,
</em>
<em>We rolled the ball off
</em>
<em>Our fingertips.</em>
<em />
<em>Trouble
</em>
<em>Was there </em><em>slapping a blackjack
</em>
<em>Against an open palm.</em>
<em />
<em>Muscles were </em><em>a bright motor
</em>
<em>Double-flashing </em><em>to the metal hoop</em>
