by Ernie McCray
The joy I’ve been feeling of late
was brightened
by our athletes’ performances
at the
Olympic Games,
as I’m still wearing
a smile
from watching
Steph Curry
draining a multitude of 3’s
and Katie Ledecky
continuing to be
one of the greatest swimmers in history.
And I just had to grin
as Cole Hocker
sneaked up from behind
in the metric mile
to barely win
and when
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
ran away from other hurdlers
as though, at her back,
there was a gale force wind.
So many visions:
Brittney Griner, crying with glee,
when she could still be
in a Russian penitentiary;
the sparkle in Sha’Carri Richardson’s eyes,
from medaling twice
after having her bid for the last Olympics denied;
the look of pride on Noah Lyles’s face
after becoming the fastest man in the human race.
And then there she was:
Simone Biles.
Reclaiming her titles
with incredible passion and style.
These and other athletes
gave us masterful lessons
on how to keep our collective
eyes on the prize,
teaching us
how to do it with delight,
letting us know if we go about it right,
banning together and supporting each other,
as they did,
full of life,
we can keep
the joy we’re now experiencing in the country alive.
Hey, we can never have too much joy in our lives.
RIGHT ON! JOY! JOY! JOY!