Kudos To Michael Phelps And His Medals

It’s hard to comprehend the dedication of a swimmer getting up before the Sun

Hard enough as a teen full of energy but even more so at the age of 31

Lap after lap in isolation save for the eyes of a coach or a whistle to be heard

Practice and more practice to a winning time to in the next meet be assured

Michael Phelps has just won his 21^st gold medal in Brazil

What staying power, what speed, what iron will

It seemed like only yesterday when swimming’s golden boy Mark Spitz

Was setting world records and giving his competitors the fits

Seven gold medals in Munich and seven world records a feat that still stands

Has now been replaced by Michael Phelps as the best swimmer in all the land

21 gold medals in three Olympiads with a chance to pick up a few more; will the record forever last?

Or like all records will a  young phenom like Katie Ledecky in years ahead swim past

Records are meant to be broken as Spitz learned

Kudos to Phelps and the medals that his hard work at practices has earned

Hopefully in the future he should follow the old adage that if you drink like a fish don’t drive

As a medal winner many times over swim--much easier for an advertising or broadcast career to thrive

© August 10, 2016, Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
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