Arthur Ashe Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

On Centre Court

At Wimbledon, on Centre Court,
The players, dressed in white,
Run back and forth across the grass,
To spectators’ delight.

Of course, in the United States,
The court called Arthur Ashe,
In honor of a tennis great,
Is where opponents clash.

If it did not have Ashe’s name,
It might be Center Court,
But note the “e” and “r” reversed,
Which U.S. guides support. 

The U.S. Open doesn’t mind
What color players wear,
Unlike Britain’s rules of “colour”
With a “u” that’s stuck in there.

I realize (yes, I use a “z,”
Not “s,” as do the Brits)
That language often changes after
Factions call it quits.

It’s fascinating, really,
How our long-ago “divorce”
Somehow took the centre of the land
And moved it off its course.

Serena

Serendipity, sun do smiles
European titles in mind
Royally, I was at Garros 
England, Wimbledon, my crowns
Nigh, the glory from Aussies
Arthur Ashe, the home in honour 

When honours came calling
In contrast to their aims
Love the game, win to claim
Like Masada, majestic in beauty
In its flowers engraved my name
Angel, egg, the game I play
My hands the world is laid
Serena, my name is the game

Bruce Caitlyn

Bruce/Caitlyn
© Ben Burton 7/14/2015

Arthur Ashe was more than brilliant
As a man and tennis ace
Now, along comes Caitlyn Jenner
Gets a trophy with his name

PCI's call her heroic
Much the same as Michael Sam
But that closet door's been open
Since Ashe won his three Grand Slams

Now, with every new emergence
POTUS gives each one a ring
Glorifying their great courage
For revealing private things

How can Bruce accept an ESPY
For renouncing what he was
Caitlyn opts to be a tranny
How is that a noble cause?

Hope Bruce Jenner will remember
Had he come out years ago
Wealth and fame would turn to cinder
For the world would not have known

Who she is
Just like him


Why God Select You

Arthur Ashe-

A Wimbledon legend he,

Took him AIDS as mourning eyes like a Sea,

"Why God selected you for AIDS"? wrote one Ashe,

"When millions playing tennis,became champion I,see,

Then I didn't asked God why me",

Replied Ashe!

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

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