Dear Serena Poem by Jim Yerman

Dear Serena Williams…I want to take a moment and apologize to you
for something I didn't say…something I did not do.

As we waited under a crab apple tree for our pizza the other day
a group of people wanting to share our shade sat a few feet away.

They were loud..a bit obnoxious…as they sat so close beside me…
and when their conversation turned to tennis…anger boiled inside me.

When the subject turned to you Serena…words I'll never forget
one man laughed saying why would I want to watch a gorilla hitting balls across the net.

His conversation partners chuckled…my heart dropped to the ground…
this man was spewing his bigotry…and there were children running ‘round.

We didn't want to hear any more so as soon as we were able
we took our pizza and our anger and moved…to a different table.

It should have been a wonderful moment…eating pizza on a beautiful day in the south
but every bite of pizza…left a bad taste in my mouth.

I was angry…as we took our pizza and walked off in a huff…
but I realized a little later…my anger's not enough.

I wish someone had said something…
I wish that someone was me…
to let them know I didn't care for their arrogance and bigotry.

I wish that I had done something…even though I was outmanned
to show them just how wrong they were…to help them understand.

I hope when faced with a similar situation I'll change the paradigm…
and work to stem the tide of bigotry…one person at a time.

Serena, my sincere apology is all I have to offer you today
next time I promise I'll try harder to find the right words to say.