Parallelism: Myers uses parallelism to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, in the line "I move through life like a ball/Bouncing, rolling, spinning," the repetition of the "-ing" sound creates a sense of movement.
Allusion: Myers alludes to the Bible in several places in Slam. For example, the title of the poem refers to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, in which God punishes humanity for its pride by confusing its language. In the poem, the character Slam is also punished for his pride, as he is eventually defeated by a younger, more talented player.
Symbolism: Myers uses the image of the basketball to symbolize a number of things, including hope, dreams, and redemption. For example, in the line "The ball is my hope," Slam expresses his belief that basketball can help him escape from his difficult circumstances.
Onomatopoeia: Myers uses onomatopoeia to create a sense of realism and to mimic the sounds of basketball. For example, the line "The swish of the net" creates a sense of the sound of a basketball swishing through the net.