Last Sighting (Poetry)

For T.F.

The last time that I saw him
or certainly near to last
one summer evening on the tennis court
his spare athletic body cast
a long shadow on affection
and I caught my breath to see
how he retained his youthful vigour
forty years ahead of me

His sporty Aertex laundered dapper
his racket swung with expert reach
thus the ball flew its chalk lesson
just the way he used to teach —
straight and true — the old school master
Delderfield described — he served
all his days so dedicated
that his aim had never swerved

Now bronzed by sun, brow lightly wrinkled
age saw fit he still could play
the game that gave some satisfaction
since long retirement’s holiday
no more test papers for marking
no unruly kids to tame
experience showed to advantage
when the final matchpoint came