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
>
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