Tennis Exchange
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
Over and over,
Baseline to baseline.
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
Like two boxers,
Toe to toe,
Mightily swinging,
Searching for vulnerability,
Pounding shot after shot,
Hoping for a winner.
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
Grunt! Pop!
Tap.
One player moves.
Shuffle, shuffle,
Stretch, shout,
Racket reaching,
Yielding just a little.
Soft pop. Held breath.
Ball floats, like feather,
Angling miraculously away,
Lands, barely over the net,
Touching down while
Player two applauds,
Hand to racket,
Catches a towel from the ball boy,
Curses the sweat away,
Readies for the next volley.
Author: Edward Dzitko
Photo: Samuel-Elias Nadler on Unsplash
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