Very nice, Bill.
Andrew
On Thu, 6 Feb 2020 at 05:57, Bill Wootton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Thanks, Doug. I’m not really much of a tennis fan either which is probably
> why I allowed myself to observe the diversion. No one in the newspapers or
> in the commentary box mentioned it.
>
> Bill
>
> On Thu, 6 Feb 2020 at 4:06 am, Douglas Barbour <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Well, Bill, I can’t say OI’m that interested, but then you tell the tale
> > so neatly, I enjoyed it all. And there is a place for narrative poetry of
> > many kinds, after all.
> >
> > Doug
> >
> > > On Feb 5, 2020, at 4:59 AM, Patrick McManus <
> > [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > > ah the Tennis season round the world feathers flying it seems -but from
> > which bird we may well ask -hopefully not singed !
> > >
> > > thanks P
> > >
> > > On 04/02/2020 20:56, Bill Wootton wrote:
> > >> Two sets down, groin injury treated mid-match, swearing,
> > >>
> > >> in what he hoped was an unknown language
> > >>
> > >> but didn’t end up being because a multilingual ball person
> > >>
> > >> picked it up and dobbed him in to the ref
> > >>
> > >> causing interrogation and further disgruntlement,
> > >>
> > >> Roger is about to serve again to his lower ranked opponent
> > >>
> > >> when suddenly he is stilled.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> A feather
> > >>
> > >> floats
> > >>
> > >> in his gaze
> > >>
> > >> almost as if he has willed it into being.
> > >>
> > >> First the hollow shaft, the calamus,
> > >>
> > >> dips,
> > >>
> > >> then pops up,
> > >>
> > >> allowing the top end of the rachis
> > >>
> > >> to take its playful downward turn
> > >>
> > >> and on
> > >>
> > >> and down
> > >>
> > >> like a tiny skiff in a dancing sea
> > >>
> > >> until it settles on the blue court.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Roger’s eyes have followed it all the way
> > >>
> > >> to its soft, silent landing.
> > >>
> > >> Now he steps over the baseline,
> > >>
> > >> drops to one knee,
> > >>
> > >> picks up the feather between thumb and forefinger,
> > >>
> > >> and deposits it behind the playing area.
> > >>
> > >> The ref allows the delay.
> > >>
> > >> His opponent fumes.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> That’s all it takes.
> > >>
> > >> He wins his service game,
> > >>
> > >> calmly returns anything sent his way thereafter,
> > >>
> > >> and accepts the match,
> > >>
> > >> does Roger Featherer.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> bw
> >
> > Douglas Barbour
> > [log in to unmask]
> > https://eclecticruckus.wordpress.com/
> >
> > Recent publications: (With Sheila E Murphy) Continuations & Continuations
> > 2 (UofAPress).
> > Recording Dates (Rubicon Press).
> > Listen. If (UofAPress):
> >
> >
> > Done in by creation itself.
> >
> > I mean the gods. Not us. Well us too.
> > The gods moved into books. Who wrote the books?
> > We wrote the books. In whose dream, then are we dreaming?
> >
> > Robert Kroetsch
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
Books available through Walleah Press
http://walleahpress.com.au
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