The Gray One
From PiedPipersHouseOfPong
(Copyright 3rd ed – Aug 2008)
Part 1
The thin man entered in; but not a soul knew his name
Appearing Old and Gray, could he even play the game?
No sponge rubber appeared upon his old wooden blade
Just pimpled rubber that had been in a past decade made
The Others were dressed up in the latest sports apparel
But this fine old Gent would send them all to their peril
A "Leader of the Band" and "Bojangles" all rolled into one
This Old Chap aged well enough to call any of them "Son"
The Gray One’s rumpled old hat he would seldom remove
He was a "master of ball control" always in his best groove
The young lad opponents had the fierce spin of great loops
Yet the Gray One did them all in, as they just said, "oops"
The youths of the day were eager to put quick money on the line
Claiming the Gray One's bets were from drinks of too much wine
The Gray Man's lack of new sports apparel and properly fitted gear
Prompted the Young Ones to often joke, laugh, snicker and jeer
The Gray One came from a Past Age when "Defense was King"
Yet this Old One had prowess to attack balls from each wing!
They didn't know him, but a faint memory from the eldest “Son”
Wherein he vaguely remembered old stories of the Loopers undone
So "inverted" may be the latest for speed and spin in the sport
But Mister Bojangles beat the youths, even while having a snort
The eldest Son tried to warn them - but too late did he converse
So the Mighty Old Gray One took them for the lucrative purse
One-by-one the Sons would fall to this "Old Gent with the Hat"
As it is said in Wrestling, the Sons were all "pinned to the mat"
And though by his sir name the Gray One was not even known
The skill in his rough, crusty old hands clearly had been shown
We still can't name this fellow, but know those of his time
"Barna" or "Reisman" would fit this Old Gent most sublime
But who was he? – By anyone will it ever be known?
No matter - all of the "Sons" feel a little more Grown
A Gray Gent with an old rumpled hat and faded blue jeans
Decided to embarrass macho youth in their twenties and teens
The Gray One even while in the most advanced of his years
Played hardbat so very sublime, it could put Mozart to tears
Part 2
The Gray One was a Mozart of Pong coming from decades ago
And he dealt the Young Lads a most severe pocketbook blow
The Young Ones would go for loops with the spin and the speed
But this Gent, the "Leader of the Band", caused pockets to bleed
Then they accused the Gray One of using rubber that is "junk"
But he showed them it was legitimate before Atlas was hunk
The Youthful Sons still tried - his wood and pips to denounce
So this Mozart had to prove this hardbat gear had a true bounce
The Gray One pulled cigars from under his old rumpled hat
Then he placed them where the white table end line was at
Then with his forehand drives he hit cigars down without fail
The perplexed Youths gritted teeth to avoid many a loud wail
The Gray One had the Youths bested yet he did not cheat
But soon this Old Man - his very maker - he would meet
All the hearts of the young men now had all been turned
Despite earlier -- their pockets were most severely burned
They turned to treat the Gray One with utmost respect
But The Old Man quivered and his health was suspect
The Youths became tearful doing whatever they could
Yet whatever they tried - it seemed not to do any good
The Gray One was dying and nothing could be done
Tearfully he said farewell and calling each of them "Son"
Life's turns took him out of Pong rooms for many a year
Through tough, hard times and too many glasses of beer
Somehow it was as if the Gray One knew he would go
And that the youths of the this day -- needed a show
He had no family, not even a single soul to embrace
So the Youths in their tears became family-in-place
The Gray One died while clutching the hard rubber blade
Still wearing the hat - as the youths could no longer aid
The Sons broke down and cried, no more macho within
Such great respect for the one who earlier did them in
Together the Sons carried the casket of this Fine Old Gent
Saying their prayers that to Heaven - he would soon be sent
The Lads paid for his funeral though all cash-strapped to the hip
For this "Leader of the Band" who used only the wood and pip.
The Pied Piper of Pong