rose park tennis camp 1973 (for ms walker)
A poem by Brian Gilmore

rose park tennis camp 1973 (for ms walker)

in the morning like the pros
at wimbeldon we wear white.

listen to a tiny black woman
who thinks this is the marines.

she never tells us how she was
so good she used to beat
the great althea gibson.

here are the best parts: wooden
rackets. lime green tennis balls.
ice cold 10 cent cokes. “love.”

we serve that to each other every
morning. don’t mind when there is
no return.

About the Author:

Native Washington DC poet Brian Gilmore is the author of four books of poetry including, “come see about me, marvin”, (Wayne State University Press), a 2020 Michigan Notable Book Award recipient.  A long time public interest lawyer and writer for many publications, he teaches in the Law & Society Program (MLAW) at the University of Maryland – College Park.

Poetry Breakfast is an online journal publishing poetry and short plays.
If you’d like your poems considered for publication visit our Poetry Submissions page.
If you’d like your short play considered for publication visit our Short Play Submissions page.