Until Then—nothing Lost Poem by Kurt Philip Behm

A four year medallion
A lifetime of pain
The hours put in
Always fighting the strain

One hundredth of a second
Your dream crashes down
The spoils eluded
Someone else with the crown

No pictures or news clips
Today come your way
The prize to another
The trophy at bay

With pity now over
It's time to begin
The reward in the training
New words to your hymn

So head back to the track
Or your pool or the court
The bar a bit higher
Your coach to retort:

'It's all up to you
As you reweigh the cost
Never quitting—the magic
Until then nothing lost'

(Watching The Winter Olympics: February,2014)