A Tennis Game

Love all, 0-0.
Green blur, softly spinning
Like the world
Players concentrating, immersed
In the world they have created
For themselves
Where if you hit red, you're "out."

15-0.
Loser of the point is enraged,
The red that he hit flashes in his eyes
As you see his disappointment, fatigue
A blur of yellow strands and a bang,
You see light green on white,
If you hit the line it's good.

30-0, a service ace
a loss to a player with a lower rank
is forbidden, abolished but it is
happening anyway, stop this exhaustion
hit back the serve, light green sphere
fuzz bounces back, a thunk instead of
a stringy bang, the net rattles.

40-0, come on
get yourself together, win at least a point
see the blur coming, bang it, hits white
a dive by your opponent, soft thud
not hard enough, green on the tape
leaning, falling, bouncing
on the other side of the court.

40-15, confidence abounds
that was just a lapse
enters back into his universe
serve hits the tape, sneaks over
let, first serve, he tries again
a slice out wide, spins out of reach
hits the fence untouched.

1-0, game is over
already is he losing
can never get that game back
but the next game is still waiting
quick sip of water, back out
running onto the court ready
for another game, racket in hand.