By Natalie Rodriguez

I feel the blazing heat from the bright court

As my foe and I battle for a win;

Yet the score shows that I am falling short.

As I feel panic rushing through my skin,

Anger starts to plague my mentality.

My thoughts are like an anchor in this game

And defeat becomes a normality,

For there is now only myself to blame.

But I walk off the court and see the good—

Failure is always a part of the sport,

And shoulders high, my faults are understood.

For perfection is not reached on the court

And success is not easily obtained,

Only through persistence can it be gained.

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