A Holiday Skating Poem, Part 2

"Competitive figure skating demands much in the way of encouragement and financial support. This poem was written in appreciation of those who help dreams come true."

{Read Part 1}

I didn’t win gold but I learned well that night

That the journey I’d taken was well worth the fight.

My wife and I came to watch Christmas Eve

Skaters who would remind us to believe

That anything’s possible. I smiled when

A familiar young face glided into a spin.

We knew she was trying to train years before

But her single mom couldn’t provide any more

Rink time or costumes or coaching, so we

Sent her checks like someone long ago had for me.

We watched her develop in skating and age,

And after she surfaced upon the world stage,

She won many medals, money and fame,

Endorsements and then a professional name.

We watched through the evening as she stole the show

Her talent and technique paled to her glow

Of beauty and patience, of strength and of grace

Reflecting in lights up onto every face

Of all the young kids who stared and were sure

They’d one day become a pro skater like her.

Though she’ll never know my name I’m a part

Of a sport that rewards both talent and heart.

After the show, before going to sleep,

I thought about how those gold medals weren’t cheap.

But worth most of all, more than training or hair

Are the talented youngsters who need us to care.

This season, with ice skating costumes agleam,

Remember that all medals start with a dream

That’s supported through funding, encouragement too,

And someday, perhaps, you’ll help more dreams come true.