After Karolina Pliskova defeated Serena Williams on Thursday night, knocking Williams out of her bid for a 23rd major title at the US Open & losing her No. 1 spot, Baltimore singer-songwriter Sonne Riley was inspired to write a poem.

1st Verse:

For Serena Williams

9.11.1999, Serena won her first one

9.11.1999, me & mom got evicted again

Well here comes auntie in her station wagon

In the driver seat where father should have been

She said you don’t have much

But you’ll always have us

When there’s nothing else

Not much I can comprehend

‘cept mom & auntie love got no end

Shall I find peril later down in life

I remember their every sacrifice

And all the strength it took

To fight every time the devil waged war

Chorus:

Aunty taught me how to conquer like Serena

Momma taught me to beat my match like Serena

And if this match I don’t win

This game ain’t over I’m coming back again

Auntie taught me to be strong like Serena

Momma taught me not to quit like Serena

And if this match I don’t win

This game ain’t over I’m coming back again

Might not had a daddy

Might not had a home

Still I was never alone

Had 2 Black queens fight for me strong

Like Serena Williams

2nd Verse:

Momma had her flaws of course

But even the best nets rip on the best tennis courts

Even best the players sometimes fall short

That don’t mean that it’s over that your done for

Auntie spent her nights wit a bible under a lamp

Praying God pass a blessing by a back hand

That one day she might see me again

When they took me away

I can see their hurt inside

No matter how strong those woman were

They couldn’t stand losing one of theirs

But even without ’em I survived

All cuz the lessons I learned on 9.11.1999

Chorus:

Aunty taught me how to conquer like Serena

Momma taught me to beat my match like Serena

And if this match I don’t win

This game ain’t over I’m coming back again

Auntie taught me to be strong like Serena

Momma taught me not to quit like Serena

And if this match I don’t win

This game ain’t over I’m coming back again

Might not had a daddy

Might not had a home

Still I was never alone

Had 2 Black queens fight for me strong

Like Serena Williams

Give “Serena Williams (Poem)” a listen via SoundCloud:

Give “Serena Williams (Poem)” a watch via YouTube:

A while back, Sonne Riley dropped the new music video for his single, “Want Love“, which explores the topic of depression & suicide saliently without soap boxing, while the raw emotion of his vocals punctuates the message in just the right way. Give it a watch & follow him on Twitter!!!

ESPN (@ESPNW) Taps @SonneRiley To Pen Poem To @SerenaWilliams In Wake Of Her US Open Loss