Wild Beauty Poem by John Knight

I only saw her once - but it was amazing
Perfection of form - Passion mellowed by Grace & Beauty.
The vision is forever locked in my mind
The love is for eternity locked in my heart.

In 1999, I was in Japan on a business trip
Mundane electronics - and a colleague had tickets
For the Ladies Volley Ball World Championship
She was my boss - it was a question of Noblesse Oblige!

Japan v Tunisia - it was needle match and a full Stadium
The Tunisian Team was heterogeneous
But one young lady stood out - the physique and leap
Of a young and beautiful Gazelle.

All eyes were on her as she rose majestically
To twice her normal height and then smashed the ball
With the force of twenty sledge hammers.
A symbiosis of explosive physical and mental prowess.

Not once but again and again and again.
Japan did not know what had hit them - and
Despite the supportive shrieks of a partisan crowd
Had to concede to Tunisia and their powerful Princess.

After the game despite my search - she seemed to melt away
I asked on of her team mates who was still signing programs
'Who was the Lovely Girl - and what is her name? '
'Ah' - elle a repondu - 'Sa nom est LA BEAUTE SAUVAGE! '

Dedicated to the powerful perfomance of Olfa Drid