The Olympiad

On your mark… get set… the gun goes off,
the race is on.
Eyes fixed on the finish line;
hearts intent on the gold.
Preparation was a slow and painful process:
one foot in front of the other,
stretch that muscle, bend that knee.
Free the mind; take the hurdles one by one.
Dare to dream of wild beginnings;
flaming sunsets, purple forests,
think beyond the copper track.
One foot in front of the other,
limbering, stretching, growing,
The transition from fantasy to reality
nothing but hard, grueling work;
and there are no quitters on the field,
not them; not those who seek the gold.
They will rest and pause to see the sunset,
they will breathe the fresh new day;
they will color their lives with boldness
until the flag swings downward;

they live until the end.

©Carmen Ruggero 2007 & 2008