'Coalescence' by Brandan Mulcahy

Coalescence

Wimbledon Park, 2010 - now

On these courts,

in the compass of twelve years,

I have played the perfect match.

Served true down the T unreturned,

or out wide, to volley a lofted reply

to the undefended corner opposite. Textbook.

I have kept points short, shunned the baseline,

called the shots with angles of irretrievability

and drop-shots weighted, placed to die

just so; with sleight-of-hand cross-court passes,

and, every so often, a ripsnorter

forehand down the middle flat and low.

All of these things have come to pass – all done 

with feel and focus, tempered, in the zone.

Brendan Mulcahy  3/23