OLYMPIC CHALLENGE

Extraordinary man a true athlete
Born with a driving need to compete
Dedicated to building muscle and bone
Working for chiseled features of stone
To run faster or jump higher than any other man
To throw farther or lift heavier than anyone can
Separate his mind from the physical mass
So every athletic challenge he can pass
Push himself beyond the wall of pain
So seconds or inches to his limits he can gain
Sweat a river and move a mountain of steel
To meet the challenge of physical and mental will
                             Bear

Author's Note

I leave most punctuation to the reader that they can read the poem in their own meter, mood and motility. I thank you for taking the time to read my work.

Reviews

[Hope]

We need athletic qualities to live healthy.
The message you gave out is great!

"Separate his mind from the physical mass
So every athletic challenge he can pass"- These are my fav lines:)
I always enjoy reading your works.

[Bear]

I am glad I was able to entertain that is my main intention with my work. I admire anyone who who can dedicate themselves so completely and understand themselves to such a level of mastery over their body.

[Hope]

Yes I too agree..

[Bala Gorthi]

You have very well capsuled the life of a true athlete. Their whole efforts and their striving crafted concisely and crisply in these twelve verses. Only a few may get success and fame but all strive with same dedication.
This poem is a big salute all those who sweat out their day and night after their goal. Championships begin and end but their efforts keep going on and on.
Thank you for writing and sharing this one.....

[Bear]

Thank you for the nice review and you are right, if you don't have the drive to compete, then you could never do the work needed to be an Olympian. You should also read a poem I wrote for the 1976 Special Olympics http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/BearMage/1511996/

[Papaya]

Nicely done, top of their form these folks are but its a lot of hard work. Good poem.

[Bear]

It is more than a full-time job, most of them will put in 70 to 80 hours a week with little reward for their efforts, that is dedication. Thank you for stopping by and bothering to comment :~)

[andrew mitchell]

A nice sentiment to those true athletes who have to compete with underlying or undetected drug cheats. A blight on the games! nice bear!

[Bear]

Being there makes you appreciate it even more, you miss so much on TV. I fear you are right and this may be the beginning of the end for the Olympics, with politics and corruption putting its touch in the works I can't help but see the end as we know it.