Ping Pong Poem by Prabhakar Subramaniam

I have not played this before

Putting a ball one bounce

Across a low net

On a narrow table.

The ball too small

The racquet

So light you hardly feel it.

Taking a cricketer's contempt

To an indoor game

Demanding a different skill set

I was soon put in my place

Beaten by all and sundry

Paunchy, puny, tall and short

All split personalities

So friendly outside

But turning into terrorists

Once into the game

Smashing your tame

Serves back at you,

Spinning the ball

Like a Muralitharan

Making a fool of you

As you reach out for the ball

And it spins the other way,

As if it is an elfin

Sent to teach you a lesson.