the boy hitting the wall
with his ragged tennis ball
is the Hero of my afternoons
he has no one to play with
just like me
but unlike me
he gives his very best
day by day
loses and wins and loses again
until his loneliness grows old
and impatient
just like me
until rocked by a graceful anger
i shout at him
ask him to stop
for all saints’ sake
before i commit murder
but he smiles at me
the way children smile
when they pity the grown-ups
and asks me
to come play with him.

the boy hitting the wall
with his ragged tennis ball
is the hero of my afternoons.