Until Then---Nothing Lost

A four year medallion A lifetime of pain The hours put in Always fighting the strain One hundredth of a second Your dream crashes down The spoils eluded Someone else with the crown No pictures or news clips Today come your way The prize to another The trophy at bay With pity now over It’s time to begin The reward in the training New words to your hymn So head back to the track Or your pool or the court The bar a bit higher Your coach to retort: “It’s all up to you As you reweigh the cost Never quitting—the magic Until then nothing lost” (Watching The Winter Olympics: February, 2014)