When we smile at each other on the court it is as if
to share this secret together and when one of us wins over
the other, both panting with e)S.ertion, there is a courteous
deference about the winner that allows the loser to
reconcile himself to his defeat in good spirits.
YOU LIFT YOUR FACE
You lift your face to mine
with the sweet, sad expression
of the life of reservation
towards delight in love
of moments long ago and gone
*
that left their impress on your thoughts
and I in turn gaze back
with love newly acquired
in old age and the sadness
that is mine of love so long
delayed in coming meets yours
long languishing in fears.
We smile.
1973
*
1974
David Ignatow
