You pick me up when I'm in dark times
The squeaking of shoes, the thwack of my racket
My mind goes blank as I read the signs
Of where the ball will land.

The deep chemical scent of the *****
Intoxicate my senses with joy
I can feel the power throughout my body
As I swing with all my might

My mouth open with a shout
I swallow the yellow fuzz
And slam my eyes shut with disgust
Horror dawns on me of my mistake as the ball zips by me.

I feel my heart come into my throat
As I congratulate  him at the net.

Hope is a big oak tree
It lives by you all the time
And through the dark times when it looks bad
Life springs back into it with the light
All through your day, and when you are lying in bed
While you grow old, it does too
Until you are both old and brittle,
And while you swing, they both carry you

Standing tall and resolute
Truly ugly without dispute
Waiting till spring to become
The best that you can be
In the summer you're a beauty
In the winter you're a stain
On the beauty of the snow
No matter who you ask
They'll tell you of you're beauty

Wet ground all around
Squishes all around my feet
Smells just like decay

The crunching needles
Under feet smell like summer
Howling of wind