“Love All” (Tennis, Federer, Not Quite Wimbledon)
Roger Federer (surprise surprise!) won Wimbledon. I confess to have been rooting for Andy Murray (so the Brits could at last get the title.) Still, congrats to Federer – it is impossible not to admire his nimble grace and iron composure.
Wimbledon is, of course, played on grass, where Federer excels. Historically, however, he has not been such a winning machine when he plays on clay, particularly on the bright orange surfaces of the French Open. Here’s a freshly revised poem, written during one of those French Opens.
******************************
Would-be Poet
I, who must be purposeful at every minute,
even when lying in bed on a Sunday morning, call to ask you, miles away,
for a prompt, something to write about, something
outside of myself.
You are watching tennis. You’ve taken the phone into
the TV room, but, far
from its home cradle, it emits a steady cackle.
Earlier, you left the TV, but this is
my second call of the morning, and Federer, the champion for umpteen
seasons, is being trounced.
As the silence on your end
of the line extends (but for
the crackling), my mind’s eye
sees your legs–you wear tennis
shorts for the event–they bounce
from heel to thigh, not with impatience, but
compressed excitement, so that your
hips barely rest upon the edge of
that bed (so very far
from mine); I imagine
your face too, gaze glazed
with the brilliant orange
of the beamed clay surface.
I want to shout
over the static: But Federer is never his best
on clay! Don’t you
know that already? Doesn’t
the world?
Instead I whine something
about really needing
a prompt, and you, squeezing words from
the small bits of brain
not glued to the brilliant screen, say, um…
how about…’photosynthesis’?
You are not a poet; you don’t pretend to be a poet; why
do I even ask you, a non-poet, for such help?
I groan.
Wait, you interject, with renewed
vigor (someone’s just made
their serve), how about ‘love
and photosynthesis’?
I groan again.
‘Asparagus’ then, you laugh,
making some distracted
but cheerfully inane
remark about how
it’s like your love for me, endlessly growing.
While I, who must be purposeful
at every moment, turn green, so jealous
of the TV that grips you, of
the clay, the ball, even the frustrated
Federer, that uncaringly
hold you so close–but mostly
of you yourself, your ability to just sit there
and watch,
guiltlessly, lovingly, full
of bright orange beams.
*************************************
Posted also for dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night.
Tags: jealous of Roger Federer, love and photosynthesis, Love Poem, manicddaily, pay attention!, poem about French open and husband watching, poetry, poets prompts!, poets search for something to write about, Tennis love poem
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ManicDDaily 
July 9, 2012 at 1:14 am
LOL! Great fun!
July 9, 2012 at 10:13 am
what a fantastic fun story poem.I am right there with you in the frustration about a prompt and the jealous appreciation of the person who can so guiltlessly watch someone else’s game. ‘love and photosynthesis’ really had me laughing for its subtle irony. ~jane
July 9, 2012 at 11:19 am
Thanks so much, Jane. k.
July 9, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Lovely chewy complex piece-I find tennis only slightly more interesting than watching the proverbial paint dry, so I was expecting not much–you bowled me over(to drag in another sport) with all the threads of our commonalities and differences, of love and affinity and neediness and the pure fascination of the existence, the ohysics, of the other. Enjoyed it very much, Karin, whoever this Federer guy is. ;_)
July 9, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Ha! k.
July 9, 2012 at 1:28 pm
PS – I confess to not watching much tennis myself! I find that it is more interesting than paint, but I take it in smallish doses. k.
July 10, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Personally, I like to watch figure skating, which puts many people, including my husband, to sleep. ;_)
July 10, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I’m only really interested in the Yankees, I think. And that may be more out of city loyalty, k.
July 9, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I love this! 1) Love the poet/non-poet interaction (oh so familiar) and 2) love the tennis. Wimbledon is the one Slam event I make a real effort to watch. Great match Sunday–had trouble deciding who to root for. Always love Roger but have a soft spot for underdogs. Even though he didn’t win, I do think Andy finally got through some of his mental blocks, so I fully expect him to win one soon!! Thanks for the fun, K!!!
July 9, 2012 at 6:03 pm
we actually watched the mens doubles…first bit of tennis i have watched in years…i hear you though on the envy of the ability to be content in just watching it…and i def think there is something there….write about asparagus…that would be awesome…i have been after tash to write me a grilled cheese poem for months…
July 9, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Oh, I really like this. And, recognize it all too well!
July 9, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Thanks, MZ. k.
July 10, 2012 at 2:18 pm
smiles…first…roger federer is from the area i live…and second..i find non-poets can give awesome inspiration for prompts…smiles..
July 10, 2012 at 2:30 pm
A terrific poem, my dear. You always come through at the highest level. I love the relaxed and conversational, reflective qualities of this piece… a marvelous write. xxxj
July 10, 2012 at 2:44 pm
LOL Jealous of a game of tennis. It makes perfect sense to me. An ex of mine was jealous of my writing because it meant I wasn’t sharing time watching the mindless shows on TV. I so get this, Witty, clever, totally absorbing, write.
July 10, 2012 at 2:45 pm
You are not a poet; you don’t pretend to be a poet; why
do I even ask you, a non-poet, for such help?
I groan.
Well.. you found your prompt 😉 My husband is not a poetry fan, but he does try to understand the poems I read … just like I try and not be bored to death with all his medical jargon 🙂
July 10, 2012 at 3:10 pm
While I, who must be purposeful
at every moment, turn green, so jealous
of the TV that grips you……….I know the feeling…great capture and storytelling!
July 10, 2012 at 5:02 pm
I didn’t watched the finals but I can imagine the conversation of someone glued to the set, while thinking of a prompt ~ Enjoyed it K ~
July 10, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Thanks, Heaven. k.
July 10, 2012 at 5:26 pm
This is my favorite of yours… amazing. Had to laugh at asparagus…
July 10, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Thanks so much, Laurie. k.
July 10, 2012 at 8:13 pm
I love the truth in this, the reality. My husband is a sports-aholic, there is always one form or another dragging his attention away…. I don’t mind really, it gives me the alone time I need. But i get the envy of the ability to do that.
July 11, 2012 at 3:49 am
heh-heh – looks like our house during Wimbledon!
Wondrous 🙂
July 11, 2012 at 10:08 am
Isn’t it often true that when we’re annoyed at our spouse we’re envious of them at a deeper level at the same time. Made me laugh though and really appreciate this poem.
July 11, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Not a tennis fan myself – but love where tennis has taken you here.
Lovely stuff!
Anna :o]
July 11, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Awesome write, Karin. I can relate to the zeroed-in-on-the TV thing–from both sides, actually. Also the poet/non-poet conversation. Very vivid and real story. I like it!
July 12, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Lovely. And then read again…astonishing actually! Something about the current-ness of Federer and – yet, it stands. It feels so new. It’s the current-ness of the relationship. The intimacy. You DO write really well!
July 12, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Thanks so much! I’ve been meaning to highlight your new blog in some way, but haven’t had a chance yet, but will. Thanks.
k.
July 12, 2012 at 5:49 pm
This is so true of relationships, perhaps sadly. While you pull us into the feminine side of these discussions, so familiar I must admit (somewhat guiltlessly), it’s a scene that so many couples experience. I think that’s quite unique about this, taking the everyday we all know, making it poetic, filled with meaningful passion to both men and women. I think you’ve characterized the time and place flawlessly. Your poetic asides are not just poetic, though, they reflect the struggles we all encounter with communicating to others, as much as they do wrestling with the meaning of circumstances as they unfold in human relating to a beloved. Further, the struggle for communication/understanding reflects a common and shared desire of humans to communicate at all. In bringing this to poetic form, you expand the meaning of these situations but also of the value that poetry, struggling to express emotions meaningfully, can attain. This is excellent, especially considering that the ostensible “problem” of the poem is what to write a poem “about”. But the poem itself becomes its own object in a very wise, if somewhat mischievous, way. 🙂
July 12, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Charles – your comments are always more thoughtful than my poems! And more well-written. (Agh.) I do very much appreciate your kindness though, and I loved your poem on death. If you’ve not read Ursula LeGuin Earthsea novels, you may like. They are easy reads – and The Farthest Shore would be one you’d like especially. k.
July 14, 2012 at 7:57 am
Ooh, I really enjoyed the perspectives here.. envy of simple focus and the fidgety neediness that drives the speaker. Clever. Fun. Recognisable.
And yes, did want Murray to win (about time surely!) but like, you, cannot begrudge Federer. That is stature.
August 5, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Andy Murray vs Roger Federer at an Olympic Wimbledon – once again the titans meet! This time the victory together with Olympic glory goes to Murray. It was much-deserved and hard-won. Let’s hope it makes up for previous disappointments and sets the stage for many further Murray victories.