Let me share with you a story this day
I doubt if I can properly convey
It faded somewhere down the line
From the history, today I bring it back to time
Arthur Ashe was a great player
You probably know him well
It is about this Tennis champion
I am about to tell
He was a great player of his time
Athletic, impeccable and sublime
He rose to success with a lot of struggle
And one would doubt if he really was a muggle
One fateful day, he suffered a cardiac arrest
Though he was resuscitated with a bypass in his chest
10 years later revealed a dreadful fact
The transfused blood was of one HIV-infect
Shocked, aghast hearing the news
With which he later came to terms
He faced it bravely enough
Which the history solidly confirms
Millions of fan-mails dropped-in for him
To commiserate the legend, it filled up the brim
One of the millions simply read
“Why it had to be you?” the letter said
To this Arthur replied in a considerate approach
“50 million children start playing Tennis
Of which 5 million learn to play
500,000 get professional and 50,000 reach circuit, they say
5000 make it to the Grand Slams
And a little lesser get through
4 reach the semis but
2 to the finals and 2 bid adieu
Whenever I won the Grand Slam
And held the cup high and free
I don’t remember ever asking
Asking God “Why me?”
Today, though things have changed
I don’t think its right to ask that question
When in glory I didn’t ask
In pain, I shouldn’t at all”
I doubt if I can properly convey
It faded somewhere down the line
From the history, today I bring it back to time
Arthur Ashe was a great player
You probably know him well
It is about this Tennis champion
I am about to tell
He was a great player of his time
Athletic, impeccable and sublime
He rose to success with a lot of struggle
And one would doubt if he really was a muggle
One fateful day, he suffered a cardiac arrest
Though he was resuscitated with a bypass in his chest
10 years later revealed a dreadful fact
The transfused blood was of one HIV-infect
Shocked, aghast hearing the news
With which he later came to terms
He faced it bravely enough
Which the history solidly confirms
Millions of fan-mails dropped-in for him
To commiserate the legend, it filled up the brim
One of the millions simply read
“Why it had to be you?” the letter said
To this Arthur replied in a considerate approach
“50 million children start playing Tennis
Of which 5 million learn to play
500,000 get professional and 50,000 reach circuit, they say
5000 make it to the Grand Slams
And a little lesser get through
4 reach the semis but
2 to the finals and 2 bid adieu
Whenever I won the Grand Slam
And held the cup high and free
I don’t remember ever asking
Asking God “Why me?”
Today, though things have changed
I don’t think its right to ask that question
When in glory I didn’t ask
In pain, I shouldn’t at all”
