Life's Tennis Match

Isn't it interesting.....

You think as you watch and listen,
how in instant the whole world seems to
both stand still and move on.

As you watch the crowds
the contrast between forced smiles and genuine tears
and you think

... that life throws this to us at the most random times?

and you can imagine it now, the squeeks of tennis shoes
shiny floors and the quiet whoosh of racquets,
life in persona, white polo shirt and bouncy curls, serving

throwing curveballs,
chucking out fast balls,
whizzes and whistles,

until it stops-

...that when the time comes there is a loud stillness in all there is?

to the sound of a piercing whistle,
gut-wrenching and heart-stilling,
a final and firm signal

signalling the final moment had passed
signalling the match- life's match-
signalling its end

... that when death comes to collect, there is no denying their call?

and it lies in wait.

It arrived without sound.

Now staring at you unblinkingly, where it stands,

silently perched at its nest,

 unfazed and still, as if it had been waiting all along.

Maybe, it had, and you’d never noticed,

until it had chose to cash in its debt.

Stealthily and without real warning,

the ledger is now dripping red, and you can hear, see, feel,

the effect.

and now, its eyes are glued and daring,

eyes you’ve met and eyes that you know,

for after all,

Death was no stranger to you at all.