Victory and Defeat

The winner of the women’s match,* An absolute surprise, Delighted all the fans who know How hard she always tries. In forty-nine attempts, she never Had a Grand Slam win And posing with her trophy, She could not contain her grin. The runner-up, whom everyone, (Which did include herself) Expected to go home and add That trophy to her shelf, Displayed, for all to see, A rather nasty fit of pique. She smashed her racket on the ground While uttering a shriek. She said she had to let off steam And thus was cut some slack, But as a pro, she should have known To hold that anger back. We’re only human, that is true, Though athletes who compete Should, in public, hold their heads high With a win or in defeat. *Australian Open