The Tennis Ball

William Carlos Williams

The ball shoots off

the curved racket

to start

the long rally:

Each eye

following the yellow

ball's travel

back and forth

over the net.

Measuring by sound

or a quick sight

of the opponent's

position. Against

such blows

the opposing player

sets his will--

keeping

the ball in play.

Or it shoots past

to strike the screen

and bound back--

an ace.

The mind sits listening

and waits

for the ball to come

to it.

Thought

is the echo of the future.

The same

and not the same

as the act that sends

the future

into the past

once again.

Beloved!