He Skates For Gold

My eyes burn
there’s a lump
in my throat as
Nathan Chen,
in sparkling red
skates for gold
in the land of his ancestors.

His arms spread
like wings
in fluid motion
he spins five quads
flashing blades
of perfection,
his legs, a mind
of their own,
what streams
through his mind?
I see determination,
strength, rapture
on his face as
Elton John belts out
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,
Rocket Man.

My heart imagines
the culmination
of years of dreams,
long days, sore muscles,
swallowing previous failures
on the ice
so unforgiving,
this Olympics governed
by the hand of Covid.

Millions of eyes
watch on TV
each movement,
each gesture,
each routine,
loved ones distant sit staring,
hold their collective breath,
cheer, wave with love and pride.

About the Poem

This poem is about Nathan Chen’s winning performance for a gold medal in the free skate at the Beijing Olympics.

About the Author

Lois Perch Villemaire resides in Annapolis, MD. Her stories, memoir flash, and poetry have been published in a number of journals and webpages. Her poems have been included in several anthologies. Lois is at work on a chapbook.

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