Tennis Players

By Michael Lyle

---

She was my first visit
in the new parish
because you both like tennis,

but in the wheelchair
inflicted by MS
prim and pretty

her welcoming smile
was bright as a father’s
at his daughter’s wedding

trophy wall behind
volleying light
over-powering acceptance

the sport we shared 
an uncrossable net
between us

serving aces of despair
that disavowed my parting prayer.

---

Michael Lyle is the author of the poetry chapbook The Everywhere of Light (Plan B Press), and his poems have appeared widely, including in Atlanta Review, The Carolina Quarterly, Crannóg, The Hollins Critic, Mudfish and Poetry East. He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Michael's other work on Foreshadow:
Wick of the Soul (Poetry, October 2022)

Please support us by sharing this post or buying us a book.