Zen and the Art of Racquetball

Behind the court door
is an unfolding universe.

Within its walls,
a room of dimensional
relations between the players,
a battle rages
and is assuaged
within the self.

I.

The space is 40 X 20 X 20:
The lines on the floor
commit the players
during the serve,
and thereafter
serve no purpose.

The space unfolds
as the ball is hit,
and runs until it bounces
a second time.

The sacred number
then is one,
for the ball
remains in play
until it does not.

II.

The players,
one, two, three, or four,
aroused by the passing
of the ball,
ignite in a fury
of integrated motions
meant to effectively move
the ball to a second bounce
before the opposition
returns it.

Simply this:
Passing, making a pass,
extending one's self,
breezing by,
this is the entire game.

To be within
the space of another
and to see
the moment
and have the shot
and to take it
without hesitation
is the satisfaction
of the game.

III.

The reading
of another player,
the stance,
the biomechanics,
the momentum
of the body
as it obeys
the laws of motion
and the framework
of its internal drives,
genetics,
depleting oxygen,
a single heartbeat,
the tactile grip
of shoes
upon the floor,
the need to strike
and press
and race
and trace the ball
into its fold,
that is the opposing
member's place.

IV.

No game is harder
than a single player
striving to meet
and play himself
during what appears to be
a practice session
all alone.

The self,
the inner core,
the stripped ego,
the manifest nature
of the multi-dimensional mind,
uncanny, unscathed,
relentless,
ruthless,
self-sacrificing,
undeterred,
detached and aware,
this is the mindset
that sees no target
as being other than the self
and the moment
collapses
into the chamber
and recoils
with the density
of no mind.

Herein the warrior
is released,
a vision
of eternity unfolds,
and in that moment
the gods
find peace
between the walls
of the narrow gate.

runningturtle87