Nine Gold Medals
The athletes had come from all over the country
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months of training
All coming down to these games.
The spectators gathered around the old field
To cheer on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement grew high to begin.
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run
These were nine resolved athletes in back of the starting line
Poised for the sound of the gun.
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners all charging ahead
But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
And fell to the asphalt instead.
He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story
The same goes for what next occurred.
The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.
About this poem
"Nine Gold Medals," by the American singer-songwriter David Roth, is based on a story about a 1976 race held by the Special Olympics (a sports organization for competitors with intellectual disabilities). While competing in the 100-meter dash, a young runner accidentally stumbles and falls to the ground. Rather than continue the race without him, however, all of the other athletes turn around and lift the fallen runner to his feet. They then walk across the finish line arm-in-arm in a powerful display of kindness and empathy that, the speaker declares, epitomizes the true spirit of the games. Compassion and camaraderie, the poem insists, are far more valuable than winning. more »
Submitted by PavithraSelvaraj on April 03, 2024
- 1:25 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | AXBX XXBX XCXC XDED XXAE XFXF XXXX XGXG |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,447 |
Words | 285 |
Stanzas | 8 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
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"Nine Gold Medals" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/184177/nine-gold-medals>.
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