Phillip Garcia Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Scrolling Through An Old Photo Gallery

I’m looking at this picture of my daughter Ava 
someone took three years ago as she was watching me 
during the semifinals of our tennis club’s singles championship:

Standing there with her back to the camera,
her little fingers curled around the metal wiring of 
a chain link fence, she’s trying to capture my attention

before I hit a kick-serve from the ad-side court;

Intently focused on the task at hand, I bounce the green ball
twice in front of me, toss it slightly behind my center of gravity
into swirling winds three feet above, coil like a spring,

and then, with every ounce of my being, explode upwards
while Ava stands there - still - her wide eyes searching an empty cage.

5/8/2017

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Connie Marcum Wong May 17, 2017 at 6:30 AM Daddy's are so special to little girls. They so want and need their attention. I could feel you missing her in this nostalgic poem of yesterday's Phillip. I hope you can reunite soon my friend. : ) 7

Darren White May 9, 2017 at 10:35 AM I smile at the picture, I smile at you. That poem is so wonderfully still, as still as that photo. You focus on that ball, she on you. Beautiful poem. Phillip Garcia May 9, 2017 at 12:43 PM Thanks Deedub. I do better thinking two dimensionally, it seems

Akkina Downing May 8, 2017 at 10:22 PM Definitely a precious memory only wish it wasn't sad. All the best Phillip and God bless... Hugs :) Phillip Garcia May 9, 2017 at 1:04 AM Thank you, Akkina. I appreciate it. :)

Dale Gregory Cozart May 8, 2017 at 6:26 PM as a tennis fan I like this. although whoever invented the top spin serve had WAY too much time on their hands. Phillip Garcia May 9, 2017 at 1:05 AM I agree 100% - I could literally write a novel on the nightmares I've had as a result of facing left handers who employed that serve. Gives me shivers just thinking about it

Jan Allison May 8, 2017 at 4:25 PM Aww Phillip What precious memories but the final stanza packed with emotion and such sadness makes me think of a bird that has escaped from its cage, you must miss her so much:-( hugs Jan xx Phillip Garcia May 8, 2017 at 4:28 PM More n more every day. One day soon, hopefully, I won't have to anymore and I can get back to being mad about losing this match