Poem for Federer Fans

Hey all,

I recently found this poem I wrote about Roger's triumph at the famous French Open 2009, which was hidden away as a draft in my email.  To be frank, I don't remember writing it.  At the time, I was 16 years old and was coming off the biggest emotional roller coaster of my young life in following Roger's spectacular run during that fortnight.  I thought I would share the poem with all my fellow Federer fans who are feeling down at the moment after the difficult loss Federer suffered against Nadal in the Australian Open semi.  When I first read it, a warm smile came to my face - partly because I have no recollection of writing it.  I hope it can cheer you guys up just a little bit and remind us all that better days are ahead.

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Most thought it a sure thing—no thirst left to quench:
Taxes and death and Nadal at the French
Four years in a row and working on five,
The kid from Mallorca would eat them alive.

He’d hold up that trophy and Roger would cry,
And Federer’s fans would ask what went awry.
But something strange happened out there on the clay:
Rafa Nadal finally had a bad day.

And who was this person—this odd, skinny dude,
Who took down the Spaniard and darkened his mood?
Not Murray, not Novak, but Robin the Swede,
A spotty, but dangerous, twenty-third seed.

When Rafa left Paris, all eyes fixed on Fed.
Would he now claim his prize or crumble instead?
Would they crown him the GOAT, the greatest of all,
Or would Robin step up and answer the call?

For the last year or so, Roger’s aura had faded,
Eclipsed by Nadal, he often seemed jaded.
We witnessed his anger, we saw him in tears,
And we knew that his gifts would fade through the years.

But the umbrellas went up—rain pelted the clay,
And Roger stayed tough and put on a display
Of winners and volleys that showed off his art,
And gave us a glimpse of his courage and heart.

A champion’s nature is something so rare
That when it’s revealed, in awe, we just stare.
When the crowd rose as one to give him his glory,
Roger’s tears added joy to this wonderful story.

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Remember that there will be better days.

Kyle.