Friday, August 01, 2014

738 - Armchair Athletes.

Three Word Wednesday requires participants
to use the three words of the week in a composition.
The words this week were: farce, glistening and lucky


Armchair Athletes

It’s a farce really.
The headlines scream
AUSTRALIA WINS GOLD!
Well, no, not really.
Australia is a large lump
Of old, mineral-rich desert,
Slowly being shipped
Overseas,
One boatful at a time.

Shipped overseas to make
Commonwealth Games medals; 
Lovely glistening discs
Of gold, silver and bronze,
Rewards for effort,
Rewards for 
Early mornings,
Hard days and 
Early nights.
And the occasional
Lucky break.
But they belong
To the athletes.

Meanwhile
The armchair athletes
Cheer on Australia,
Take reflected pride
In the country’s medal tally.
Take a reflected 
And rather queer pride
In things they never did
Or wanted to do.
But somehow they are
Proud of it anyway.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2014
---

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8 comments:

  1. Hannelie (via FB)August 01, 2014

    Hear hear! Like for instance when a cyclist won we all cheer, but when they are seen on our roads training they all scream 'ban them from the roads' honking and waving fists in the air
    Sad but true!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Some people like to watch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just know I am going to regret asking but here goes: watch what?

      Delete
    2. How about a slap-up wrestling match? (What did you think I'd say?)

      Delete
  3. Making medals for us to glorify is probably one of the most innocuous use of the minerals we ship out.
    Mind you, if the un-Orstrayan Committee sees this post you will be in trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm still mad I can't get live Eurovision here on network TV, LOL.

    The only thing my state mines is sand... for hydrofracking. UGH. Wish they'd never found the stuff. Also, part of the "strategery" (to quote GWBush) for securing Afghanistan is that, beneath the rock and sand, it's not oil... but lithium for batteries.

    Also their poppy/heroin trade, protected by our dear friends the CIA.

    Now let's see who gets in more trouble with their government!!! 8^) Amy

    ReplyDelete
  5. One of the main events for arm-chair athletes is jumping to conclusions.

    You do believe the Bear on that, don't you?

    ReplyDelete
  6. they have to have something to cheer for.

    ReplyDelete

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