The Anonymous Athlete

My face, not frontpage newsworthy, Yet, here, beneath the golden orange flame With flickering fingers pointed upwards In the proverbial PEACE sign I have come, to join in... My name, unfamiliar... My country, far from where you call home My years of sacrificial determination accumulating before the masses That I might make proud Those who long stood behind my dream Not all will rise to the glory of gold Some will stumble, crumble, tumble Down mountainsides made for giants Or feel the ice give way, unmercifully 'neath their silver skates... And the wretching pain of falling short Only complicated more so Hearing the anthem of another country played Pulling at the heartstrings Of hope, dashed... But, alas, I have made strides worthwhile To come, representative of peaceful gather And stand unified in the spirit of fair play Where politics do not polarize men And competition is set to music I, the anonymous athlete Participate in pride, for all my practice And give my all, that I might stand before the world And show I tried... I might be last to cross the line, But I willfully and thunderously finish... And capture the hearts of those Who shouted to welcome me home... It is enough to hear the applause Of strangers, who now know my name... Even if for just this fleeting moment I came in PEACE, I came with Acceptance, I came with Understanding, I came with Strength... And though, the anonymous athlete, These triumphs, these merits, these accolades Shall remain golden, instilled, burning bright Within my Olympian heart... Long after the flame' s been extinguished