Wearing Only Sunlight and Beauty, the Racer on the Track at Ancient Olympia

Wearing Only Sunlight and Beauty, the Racer on the Track at Ancient Olympia

Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

Dressed only in the sunshine and his skin

He steps as strongly as a stallion to

The line.  He flexes flesh behind each shin

And focuses his self to be as true

To victory, just as focused as the eyes

Around the track are seeking out his form.

The parts of skin that spread around his size

The hair of manliness in darker storm

Both here and there in patches call the crowd

To notice them among his sturdy lengths.

Spectators almost see his heart swell proud

Inside him as he thinks on force with strengths

Of will that he must muster.  On the field

He tenses.  Not one hardened part will yield.

Phillip Whidden