Penny Ward, a member of our Poetry Champions Winchester Poetry Readers’ Group, shares her response to the Olympic Games:
An unexpectedly emotional response
I was surprised by an unexpectedly emotional response when the Olympic torch travelled through Winchester. My father was an Olympian in 1948 and seeing the 2012 torch reminded me of his achievements and touched me far more than I had expected.
Although I’ve always been the non sporty person in my family I’ve really enjoyed watching these London Games, particularly the swimming and diving contests, and especially the great Michael Phelps and all the young pretenders. Pretty compelling viewing I thought, although I’ve also dipped a toe into many sports I previously knew nothing about and been enthralled by them too. Who would have guessed that sailing could be so exciting once the rules were explained?
Apart from the pride in our athletes and country that these Olympics have engendered, I feel huge admiration for all the athletes and their prolonged effort and dedication during the early mornings and all the unrewarded years.
Sticking to your goals
And that’s what I want to take away from these Games – the lesson that sticking to my goals is worth it, whatever the short-term distraction that presents itself.
I’ve never been a long-term goals sort of gal, preferring today’s rewards to the long haul, so this will be a real challenge for me, and I’m definitely going to need all the encouragement I can get – from all sorts of directions, including some great poems, to keep me to “the sticking place”.
Watch this space…
Get involved
Meet our Poetry Champions who are celebrating the Olympics by reading, reviewing and blogging about the Winning Words anthology and sharing their favourite poems and Olympic themed stories.
Read the Not Scary Poetry Group and Stoke Newington Poetry Group response to the Olympics.
If your reading group is reading poetry or Olympic themed books, get in touch to tell us your stories.
Photo credit: foilman (Henry Burrows) used under creative commons license. Brooke Wilkinson hands the Olympic flame on to Gerry Brown in Hyde Street, Winchester.
