Entered a club
At the age of 8
Table tennis being played
Even 8 was delayed

Witnessed pure magic
Seeing the greats practice
Knew something special was happening
Grateful that i was in the audience

Blessed to see the players
All achievers one way or the other
All time greats taking their place
Opportunity to observe pure god's grace

Greatest classroom to attend
So many lessons to comprehend
Every player a teacher
Their conduct the chapter

Winning and Loosing
Attitude towards them
What it takes to win
How lives evolve within

Sportsmanship at its pinnacle
4 tables an Oracle
How empty you are
Decides how much they fill yours

Players winners
Champions and legends
All in the same den
Learning from each other
Lessons out of every counter

Doesn't come easy
Play till go crazy
Biggest lesson of integrity
Equanimity and humility given as bonus daily

Lessons free of cost
Just by observing them i got
Single minded dedication to the sport
Not winning still a sport

Elite not by any other measure
Except their sweat that dripped on the table
Wiping the table with a cloth
Knew what sacrifice was

Today it serves me best
When in doubt i look back
Memory helping to recall the facts
Implementing them i realise how tough they were

Indebted to all
Equally for allowing
Me to be
Part of the elite
Front row seats
To see Greats and greatness
Merging
Feat very few could have claimed to see

A small building
Housed on a small street
Outside hanging a small board
Going in as an amateur and a boy
Come out a champion and a man
Mylapore Gymkhana the wizard
Magic wand its players
Stood the tallest in the World