The Other Side of July

At the toe edge of a footprint in warm dry earth
A tomato worm, ruptured, just past agony, still;
Velvet-moss skin, riven, emits yellow-green effluent,
Bulging obesity suspended in slime.

The shadow of a hand sweeps across the blight,
Dims the shining ooze and withdraws,
Leaving behind a sprig of stalk,
Ragged leaf, yellow star blossom,
And a bitterspice pungency in the air.

MLM

Wimbledon 2008: Toreador Si!

Rafael Nadal was declared the Wimbledon Champion, his first victory in that grass court match. Roger Federer had won at Wimbledon five times in a row and was trying to win number six in order to excel Bjorn Borg's five consecutive wins. He came within a few seconds of breaking Borg's record, and the four hour plus match will go down in Wimbledon history as a once in a lifetime event.

The bullfighter and the fencer (see previous post) met and proved that differing techniques are equal when it comes to winning, although in this case the fencer lost. Tennis fans are looking forward to many years of competition between Roger and Rafa, the One and the Two in the world, both supreme athletes and gentlemen. The sports world can be proud of them.

Wimbledon 2008: The Bullfighter or The Fencer?

Rafael Nadal (Spain) and Roger Federer (Switzerland) will compete for the 2008 Wimbledon title tomorrow, July 6

Nadal is mentioned first, although he is second in the world of tennis to Federer's first place. This comelately sports reporter (tennis only) is highly prejudiced in Roger's favor but is striving for a neutral position as befits a person of Swiss descent.

Wimbledon 2007 ended with Federer and Nadal vying for the title which ended in a five set final won by Roger. It was then that this reporter became aware that tennis is not a game for weaklings but is for serious and competent athletes, and, played well, is worthy of close attention and enthusiasm.

The rules of tennis and its scoring are complicated. Much can be learned on various websites devoted to tennis, including live scores for matches that cannot be seen on TV but are of enormous interest. TV coverage provides a good way to analyze the players' techniques. Nadal moves as if he is in the bullfight ring out-maneuvering a raging opponent who must be dominated and vanquished. Federer moves with a fencer's speed and agility as well as strength and will to win. Both are formidable players.

Our hearts and minds will be on Centre Court in London tomorrow. May the best man win. Go Roger! Go Rafa!

Fantasy for the Fourth

In deep dark dusk
a golden trumpet's piercing note
fractures an invisible rainbow,
flings its colors skyward
in myriad shapes of ephemeral light.

The 1812 Overture explodes,
celebrates in joyous noisy cannonades
our beloved country's birth.

Ghost ships on the Potomac
briefly glow and fade.

Marguerite Louise Monette