Victors And Victims Poem by Denis Martindale

Although they started as equals,
The race, of course, began,
From then on, who of us foretells
What purposes they plan?
Pacemakers set the standard first,
While others follow fast
And then the stragglers come off worst,
Quite solemn and aghast...

Although the middle time's come near,
The field's spread open wide,
The leader's smiling without fear,
Though burning up inside...
And nearby there's the wily one,
Determined still to win,
Alas, for him, it's not much fun,
As others won't give in...

The third and fourth are close behind,
They're waiting till the end,
The final lap when they will find
More strength around the bend...
And suddenly, another strives,
With legs like lightning now,
Till past the pain his body drives
With all it can allow...

He battles on ferociously,
Till upto second place,
The crowd goes mad expectantly,
With cheers upon each face...
He's in the lead and he's flat out,
His body's racked with pain,
How long he'll last, that's now in doubt,
With so much still to gain...

He's made it to the winning line,
He's running to the right,
He's breathless till he's feeling fine,
Gold medal in his sight...
The TV crew are close-at-hand,
Congrats are everywhere...
Competitors still shake his hand,
Then go home in despair...

For there are winners, losers, too,
Their lives forever changed,
Yet what on Earth were they to do
If time's not rearranged?
Each had their chance for victory,
Each knew the risks involved,
But now there's no more mystery,
The matter's been resolved...