The tethered ball keeps orbit round the pole,
A comet bound to backyard gravity.
Two rackets strike in rivalry for control.
It hisses tight along its woven scroll,
The cord grows shorter with velocity.
The tethered ball keeps orbit round the pole.
Each swing unspools a strategy of role—
Advance the spiral, claim the territory.
Two rackets strike in rivalry for control.
The sunburned grass becomes a spinning shoal,
Where laughter tangles with intensity.
The tethered ball keeps orbit round the pole.
A misjudged hit can cost the larger goal,
Send slack unwinding opportunity.
Two rackets strike in rivalry for control.
Until one player winds the final coil,
And halts the dance in knotted victory:
The tethered ball keeps orbit round the pole,
Two rackets strike in rivalry for control.
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Author:
Matthew R. Callies (
Offline) - Published: May 19th, 2026 07:25
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem is about the sport of totem tennis, a simple outdoor game that involves a ball attached to a tall, free-standing pole by a rotating cord. Players use paddles to hit the ball back and forth, causing it to spin around the pole in either direction. Essentially tether ball using a tennis ball and paddles. For more context visit https://www.topendsports.com/sport/list/totem-tennis.htm
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 7
- Users favorite of this poem: Tristan Robert Lange
- In collections: Sports Poetry.
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Comments2
I love the construction of this poem in tercets of cascading and rotating lines that keep bringing this back to the beginning. Nicely done
Matthew, this is wonderfully crafted, my friend. The formal structure mirrors the motion of the game so perfectly that the poem itself feels like it’s spinning tighter and tighter with each stanza. There’s such energy and control here. Beautiful work. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
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