Greg Duplantis finished fifth in the Olympic trial,
But this pole vaulter would not accept that cruel denial.
He hatched an elaborate plan which was just his style.
He hailed heptathlon's Helena Hedlund with a smile.
His plan to make a vaulter was more than a fantasy,
Like the fabled fairy tale land of Atlantis. He
Married the mighty Ms. Hedlund, and prayed, mantisly,
And, so it was, God gave them Armand Duplantis, see.
Those who denied Greg would be sing a different tune,
'Cuz "Mondo", manifested the genes from which he was hewn.
Mondo vaults up to the sky, as high as a balloon.
Once, he even pole vaulted over a crescent moon!
Don't believe me? Watch him in Paris, on your TV soon!
I sat, uninspired, in my condo.
When on TV, no routine John Doe
Flew above a balloon
And then over the moon,
That amazing pole vaulter, Mondo.
I am an old man
a deep well
an epoch marriage
a raven haired beauty
five above average kids
Orion deckhand and cook
teacher of the year
Bible study leader
jail preacher
song worship leader
NAU graduate --graduate school
ASU graduate --undergraduate school
life guard
breakfast cook
English tutor
Archie Brokeshoulder's well puller
grain elevator operator
pizza chef
dishwasher
mental hospital patient
prisoner
welder
all region linebacker
wrestler
pole vaulter
3 high schools
4 jr highs
2 elementary schools
8 states
2 dads
5 moms
6 sisters
4 brothers
13 presidents
I am an old man
I'll swim a mile
this morning
and dance
all night
golf tomorrow
backpack Europe
visit kids in Montana
come back to Arizona
visit kids in Kentucky
do more Europe
come back to Arizona
swim and golf
then who knows
India, Nepal, Tibet
I am an old man
looking for something
Bobby Aiken was proud to be Scotch.
As a pole-vaulter he was top-notch.
But on one faulty try
he became a soprano guy,
having been poled crack-on in the crotch.
Many people will finally pray when someone dear is lost
Or when they've lost their way thus incurring a terrible cost
Usually spur of the moment if I can ever even get a chance
As thus this poem has been sent for you to maybe alter your stance
For think of a great swimming champion do they swim only once a week
For with just that little bit being done should it be the gold that they seek
Maybe even just sitting at the pool and just watching the others swim by
One would have to be a fool if you think that any swimmer can stay dry
Or a pole vaulter who jumps and goes soaring in the air
They have taken many lumps in order to obtain such flair
Not just a few minutes once a week or a couple times a year
Chances of winning would be bleak are the words in your ear
No, to be really good at anything it always takes a lot of practice
It's the effort you now bring as greatness always comes from this
It's staying in touch all the long day and right before you go to bed
Because that is really the only way that you'll ever hear what GOD has said
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