For Kerri and April

Poet's Notes
(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like Gregory Richard Barden.


I wrote this immediately following the Olympic Women's Beach Volleyball Semifinal Match between the United States and Brazil, when Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross lost to Agatha and Barbara of Brazil, the very FIRST Olympic match that Kerri had ever lost ...Image result for for kerri and april

A cacophony of cheers
Sand sprays like fireworks
From feet, hands, ball, hair.
Four women, two-a-side,
In a battle for the ages.

A motion of fluidity and a
Knowledge brought forth
From years in the fray.
Sun, rain, the elements,
Just more adversaries

In a long procession of
Combatants put asunder
By their clear dominance
Of a gritty game of volleys.
The Americans had few

Times met with struggle
Along their long journey
Toward the gilded yellow
Badge of Olympic honor,
But this night the glint in

The eye, the coordinate
Movements of limbs and
Lengths and deliberations,
The perfection of intents
And wiles and exertions,

Would not birth triumph,
But instead place a bitter
Pill flat on their tongues.
But such is the bare truth
Of warfare, and such is

The coming of wisdom ...
For without that sour taste
And constricting swallow,
We have no estimation
Of the finer, sweeter things

That the battlements of
Life hold within their walls.
Gold knows no favorite,
Nor does it gleam in the
Eyes of the fortunate only.

Momentum true is the key
And this night it flowed
For the sake of those
Whose feet knew this
Beach as their own ...

Who felt their home and
Peoples and affinities all
In the grainy coursing of
Cold granules underfoot,
And sometimes, when

The heart has the peace
Of its OWN around it, that's
All the difference needed.
But character outshines
The most precious ores,

And in that bold and true
Respect, our wonderfully
Beautiful and courageous
Girls of Stars and Stripes,
Shall ALWAYS stand at

The top of the podium,
And the anthem of our
Appreciation and pride
Will always play in their
Ears ...

We love you, Kerri
Walsh Jennings and April
Ross, and you are, without
Question or argument,
The very BEST.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/19/2020 12:50:00 AM
Gregory, it's hard to believe this is the first comment for this masterpiece. My wife and I always loved watching Kerri Walsh with Misty May (and later April Ross) in the Olympics. They were models of consistency, which was the result of years of hard work, combined with their immense talent and unbreakable spirits. This is a fitting homage to these athletes that we are proud to see representing the red, white, and blue. I enjoyed this very much - well done! ~ John
Login to Reply
Barden Avatar
Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/22/2020 5:32:00 AM
I just saw this, John, (I think some are going to my spam folder) - I thank you so much! I actually sent this to them via their Facebook Messenger and got a very sweet reply - they were quite appreciative - it made my day, to say the least. Blessings, my friend! :o)
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter