70 Love

This is one of my favorite poems from “Late Model”.

70 Love

when I was young
my reputation was
“that kid is really good”
sharp and bold and fleet of foot
with a racquet made of wood
I used to run onto the court
with shoes and shorts and shirt
and now I spend some extra time
on places where it hurts

a band for this
a wrap for that
injuries yet unseen
braces cover both my knees
made from neoprene

I shuffle here
I shuffle there
there isn’t that much left
strategy is now the lob
scrambling to reset

but when I toss the ball just right
and reach behind me while in flight
then sling my racquet toward the tee
with maximum velocity
they see the ball
they move, they try
but it just goes on whizzing by
my satisfaction in their face
the devastation of the ace.