Is it crossing the line, in record time
breaking the tape with arms
outstretched in victorious salute
or the journey to the end
the hours stood on side lines
nail biting to the quick
finish, last before coming first
sundays, holidays, happy days
sat, watching and waiting
for contenders and qualifiers
to move on, grow, slow
lose faith, fall at hurdles
then pick up and dust off
head held aloft, propped
uppers and downers, through
it all amounting to one moment
or is it the product of a life
time spent committed
to being better than the rest
the best, dreams realised
in the eyes of those who care
who’ve always been there, seeing
the victory in the joy of having
you on their team, at their side
of watching you growing, knowing
that whether win, lose or draw
they have held you close
dried weeping eyes, tired
fighting for the highest prize
the accolade, the honour
a mother revering her child
always winning in her eyes
The above poem was written in response to the prompt ‘Winning’ for entry into the Ashbourne Poetry Prize 2012.
Ordinary Life... Less Ordinary 
🙂 You are a winner, Vanessa. You know as I do that the big moments are the daily, tiny moments of courage and forgiveness and hope that we grab on to and extend to one another. That’s the essence of life, swirling all around us. Generally I don’t even see it, because I’m too busy waiting to become whatever it is I think I am about to become. The big moments are in every hour, every conversation, every meal, every meeting. In each moment, we are winners again! ~ Love you. ~ Bobbie
Bless you Bobbie, thanks. Love to you too xx
I very much like a lot of your line breaks here… and the sentiment of the ending.
Thank you again for your lovely comment.
I love how this crosses the boundaries of so many types of victory, both the selfish victory and the victory of a family. A really inspiring piece.
Thanks, so glad you enjoyed it.