An ode to the Olympics
The London 2012 Olympic Games are coming to end on Sunday with what organisers promise to be a spectacular closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
The motto of the Games is, 'inspire a generation'. What aspect of the Games has inspired you?
The success of London 2012 has been uplifting for many people. BBC News website readers have been inspired to compose these poems:
Kathy Holland, Bradford, UK
Watching the Olympics at home on my TV
Couldn't get a ticket, wasn't meant to be
It doesn't really matter have enjoyed it just the same
So many screens to choose from
Making my Olympic Games.
My lounge has been a stadium,
In sea, on sand, in pool
A velodrome, a football pitch
What is the offside rule?
So many sporting delights to watch
In our green and pleasant land
Showing off its beauty
With such pride we can all stand
United as a nation
Britain rules the waves
Thank you so much BBC
A blinder you have played.
Bill Bennett, Grays, Essex, UK
They said we won't be ready
They said it's doomed to fail
They said we'll never cope with it
There'll be chaos on road and rail
Now two weeks on it's all but done
The Olympic torch is spent
So let's look back on the last two weeks
And see just how it went:
First we had the torch relay
Roads lined with passionate Brits
A hint of something special perhaps
Runners in bright white kits.
A tour around the country
To invoke the Olympic dream
Our thoughts begin to turn
To our Olympic team.
Then we had the opening
A wonderful affair
A history of our Island
With music, dance and flair
The countries then paraded
The stadium soon filled
The Olympic Oath was taken
The very air seemed stilled.
The greatest athletes in the world
All gathered in one place
Each one hoping to win a gold
In their event or race
Then 16 days of wonder,
Each athlete giving their all
The sweat, the pain, the tears
In search of their ultimate goal
Team GB are in their stride
The medals start to mount
Our hearts begin to fill with pride
As we watch the medal count
Farrah, Murray, Ennis
Surely Britain at its best
Mckeever, Wiggins, Hoy
Each pass the ultimate test
A truly great Olympics
The best we've ever seen
A nation now united
By our own Olympic dream.
But now it's almost over
The Olympic games are spent
I wonder if we'll look back and wonder
Where the pessimists went?
Gill Swain, Truro, UK
Exhaustion and ache and early dawn break;
a track to pound, a circuit to round, new strengths to be found
In rain, fog and storm, rise up from the warm;
tasks to complete, seconds to beat, new personal feat
Hours alone, longing for home;
a life on hold, a force unfold, a time to be bold
A sense of right, the challenge to fight;
with sabres, with bow, with paddles to row
A relentless drive, the will to thrive;
a timely skill, a handstand still, a dive to thrill
From finish line sights and equine heights;
a race to be run, a hammer spun, a clear round won
But when each of them strive, who can measure the drive
of those destined to hold, these medals tri-fold ; Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Jonny Benjamin, Manchester, UK
This Isle of Wonder,
Majestic in its glory;
United amongst its people,
Witnessing a story
To be passed down to the next generation;
The pride of a nation,
Joined together through a single flame,
The heart of the Olympic games.
This Isle of Wonder,
On which heroes have been born and bred;
To whom our hearts have been lifted,
And our tears have been shed;
Must herald the dawn of a new age of aspiration,
To be handed down to the next generation.
For never in our minds should we erase,
The spectacle that every single Olympian gave,
To this Isle of Wonder,
And to the World that has seen,
The greatest sportspeople on earth,
Fight for all they ever dreamed.
This is the stuff to inspire each next generation,
Long after the Games fade in their celebration.
For together we witnessed the greatest show on Earth,
And greater than gold has this show been worth.