Malak Kalmoni. Chehab An amazing, encouraging poem, Malak, wonderfully thoughtful and profound! Supposedly it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become really good at something. How reassuring it is to believe “abilities are transferable” and that one flight of excellence leads naturally to another. The racket sports are a fantastic case in point; they comprise a family of related skills that should inform each other in playing various racket games. Still, the techniques specific to each are impressive challenges to achieve. That said, the passing shot in all the racquet sports is a source of sublime confidence, a joy that can make one’s day as self-doubt is exiled. With success, one is prepared to win again playing all the games of life. This poem has an excellent form, four quatrains with a varying, creative rhyme scheme. Your images and rhythm are particularly effective as you logically develop your theme. I love how this poem not only looks authentically (I get the feeling you play tennis) and intensely at a group of sports, but also extends your insights to all the arenas of life. Fantastic poem, Brava!! By Linda Powers O’Dell

Racket Sports

From tennis, there’s squash, ping-pong
Badminton, now pickleball, paddle
All racquet sports with high intensity rattle
Where your strategy is what takes long

Hours to perfect alongside technique
That alters your muscle memory
For each individual sport that’s gory
If you mix and match the technique.

Yet, the beauty of playing the right
Passing shot lives in all, a feeling
Of supremacy that lights your flaying
Self-confidence, a boost that drowns the blight

Of self-doubt into an abyss that’s bright
For it engenders an acceptance
That your abilities are transferable, and once
You take note, your wins take flight.

©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️