On hot summer days
While I’m playing tennis
The sky is heavy with love; it shows me the warmth of the sun
Inside, my heart is smiling,
like a star that shines through a misty night
my soul—restless—filled with contentment
sways back and forth with the rhythmic beat of life.
On winter’s cloudy days, As I hit the tennis balls
their penetrating coldness upon me,
I become detached from my thoughts
speechless and silent
My body and mind merge in the warmth of the tennis court
As I watch the tennis balls bounce over the net
the warm air fills me with pleasure
relaxed and easy, the passion of the cold day,
the comfort of my mind,
carry me to the horizon
take me to the hills of bleakness,
to the center of gravity
as I reach full-handed to the other side of the net.
Shahla Latifi
August 2022