Driving is not a sport for the unrehearsed,
practice makes perfect on a speeding track.
The steering wheel is a discus, blunt and capable of slicing/dicing.
A handbrake? A pull-snap-stop bone break.
Electric windows are guillotines; seatbelts are nooses in softer attire.
An Olympian goes for gold; drivers should settle for bronze on a road.
HOCKEY GAME TODAY
HOPE IT GOES CANADA‘S WAY
BEAT USA EH
Opening ceremony, a grand display of nations~
honors Olympians, their bodies flagpoles for their country’s pride.
Ester Ledecká, a master of Super G, a flawless dance—
gravity her only rival, the snow a willing partner in the waltz.
Lightning Lindsey Vonn flies down the mountain’s spine~
then a snap; pole breaks; the agony of defeat lingers.
Nathan Chen’s blades glide, elegant lines on the ice~
his leaps artistic perfection.
Johannes Thingnes Bø steadies his rifle~
his bullets streaking through the Alpine pines.
Yuzuru Hanya hangs midair~
a weightless wonder dissolving into Olympic gold.
The gold medals are more than shine-a reverent silence~
the podium a legacy, a testament of Olympic history
Olympic flame, a stolen piece of sun,
balanced in my unworthy hands,
half a mile—just long enough
to feel the weight of history
and the lightness of being chosen.
my footsteps left no mark—the fire did,
brief, bright—symbol of the fire within.
Don't get me wrong
the Olympic men's 50m butterfly
was going along swimmingly strong
but I wonder why
or was it a blunder
when the metaphorical rug
was pulled out from under
by some infernal fool
who removed the plug
from the bottom of the pool
while down the water went
was it hell-bent or heaven-sent
as what was to be gained
when after it drained
puzzled spectators and judges
were all which remained
As a seventeen year old competitive swimmer,
the other swimmer I looked up to was Mark Spitz,
he was a multiple gold medal winner,
a wonder in the water, a swimming blitz.
I had Olympic dreams,
my element was the aquatic,
but life took me in another direction, it seemed,
the lure of going to practices seemed less exotic.
How I loved the smell of the pool chlorine,
I sliced through the water as if a dolphin,
I so cherished the marine,
but other obligations needed to fit in.
The working world was calling,
and aspiring for the Game's gold had to
be retired,
but I was elated Mark had world records
falling,
and I still feel inspired.
As another Summer Olympics comes to
a close,
I'm proud of the athletes who devote their
time and sweat to their sport,
and I surely suppose,
I'll always treasure my long ago youth
in New York. ~
Let's all celebrate
Motivate and innovate
Let's all have incredible fun
The one that will last more than a lifetime
Every four years, it is that time
Again and again, let's us sprint, jump, run
Like happy rabbits, like flying cheetahs
Let's us enjoy all sports and the hoopla
Let's witness and win the gold medals
Many records will be broken
It is about doing our best and to have fun
Let's bring the torch, the flowers and the petals
Let's bring the doves, the love and the sandals
These are the Olympics, let's unite forever
And laugh all the way to the river
The bikers are coming, the rowers are here
Let's have the party of the century
Let's watch the volleyball players
Invite the drunkards and the smokers
Who are already sadly out of breath
Let's pray that they don't see an early death
Let's win the medals
And decorate the stadiums with lights and petals
May the world remain beautiful
Where there are no weak losers, only strong winners
May the world remain peaceful and wonderful
Where there are no lousy losers, only lovely winners.
Copyright © July 2012, Hébert Logerie, All rights reserved
Hébert Logerie is the author of several books of poetry.
A long time ago, grandpa told me
amateur athletes crossed oceans and paid the fees
Every four years a noble spirit arose
emblazoned on a torch, fiery and free
A spirit clear, shining bright and true
the Olympic spirit, one that cut through
The claptrap of power, regulation and rules
crossing the finish line in brotherhood
JOHN BETJEMAN 'Olympic Girl'
she she she
her her her her her her
bshe she she she she she
her her her her her her
she she she she she she
her her her her her her her
she she she she
her her her her
she she she she
her her her her
she she
John Betjeman tennis poem 'Olympic girl'
O
O = /|
| |__ __________________'_______ __________| | | |
| |~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~.~| | | |
| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |~~~~~~~~~~~~~.| | /--\
| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |~~~~~~~~~~~~~.| | /---\
| |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.|~~~~~~~~~~~~~.| | /----\
Anti-Poem— “Going To See Honey Sanchez”
gloria and me we take a yellow taxi from canoga park
we go to see honey sanchez at the olympic on grand
she be the dragon lady on skates she and terri lynch
both of them girls be tough as nails in their ripe beauty
both wearing thunderbird white riding fire and blood
lighting up the banked track against the texas outlaws
gloria keep telling shirley hardman she be dead wrong
stop your mean ways shirley girl stop beating on honey
baby she say to me could I get her a soda and peanuts
the crowd be all noisy tonight and I can smell hot dogs
the people here they be rowdy and angry they scream
cuss words eating greasy onion rings and drinking beer
my gloria she be saying only one skater be her top hero
I says who and she smiles and say it be honey sanchez—
skater dragon lady at 18th and grand in her ripe beauty
Wishing and wanting to be
An
Olympic Triathlon Gold Medal Winner
Knowing full well in order to succeed
This specific individual feat requires
3 different apposing skillets
So I went in search of 3 of the very best
coaches in each individual particular
event and discipline
So I got Memo to teach me how to run
Forrest Gump how to swim
And Lance Armstrong to teach me how
to ride a bike
And most of all how to cheat at all 3
The Duke
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku
Hawaii’s Polynesian Legend
Olympic swimmer-strokes freestyle
Represented USA & Hawaii
Shattered all records
and brought surfing to the world!
Embraced Kaliani
Surfer's Mantra
Life Saver and introduced surfing to the mainland,
The beachboy gentleman
(1890–1968)
When the temp goes down smiles come out.
You can hear the cheers of athletes shout.
Coming from competitors of all walks of life.
Piercing the chill like butter with a hot knife.
Strapping up ski boots to hit the steep slopes.
Some rookies are naturals learning the ropes.
Bundled up and ready to get up from a spill.
Back to flying down that flurry covered hill.
Helping cheer up a buddy short on confidence.
Since sportsmanship pays us back in cents.
There’s more than one winner in every race.
If you do your best, the prize is on your face.
So whether standing on skates or skis.
Or falling and pushing on with sore knees.
There’s a champ fighting to better ourself.
This isn’t for the glory, it’s to feel real health.
Count them out and they’re coming up winners.
Earning every bite of the hot recovery dinners.
So enjoy the show, because they’re having fun.
No matter the standings of when it’s all done.
A skater with a beautiful face
Wore panties trimmed with delicate lace
The judges swore
They did not score
For the lace being quite out of place!
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