Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

Half as Old

A twenty-four year difference
In the ages at the match
Means the older of the players
Has some wisdom to dispatch.

After all, she is a champion,
With many trophies won,
Her opponent at a point
Where her career has just begun.

Yet a twenty year old body
Still has spring that hasn’t sprung
And an arm or two that hasn’t
At a million forehands swung.

So at Wimbledon today, Serena,
Though she tried her best,
Got the crowds to cheer her on
But ultimately, failed the test.

They say age is just a number,
Which sounds nice, but truth be told,
It’s too hard to be competing
With somebody half as old.

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Gershon Wolf July 2, 2026 at 8:24 PM Glad to see Serena lose. She's got no business out there whatsoever, other than to make a spectacle and fool of herself. Like Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and so many others, Serena can't tell that it's over... Let her know that 'The Fat Lady Sung.'

Alison A Smith nee Howarth July 1, 2026 at 3:13 AM The wily older player can sometimes teach the younguns a thing or too. Serena possible tried to hard to find youth again instead of use her wisdom. Make them run I say until their legs can't run any more.

Jan Terry June 30, 2026 at 7:15 PM Well penned. So, Serena failed at her comeback when she came back to tennis. You got to give her credit for trying. I saw her play once at the Parabas Open in Indian Wells, California. She was near the end of her tennis career then ( or so I thought). I would still pay to see her play. Good subject for your poem. Best.