I Am The Champion Of The World

Tuesday, September 18th, 2012

Akin to Bhagawan’s saying, bend the body, mend the senses and end the mind, when a resolute and committed Mikko Mayeda, who was completely blind, decided to ‘ride on’ with an untiring pursuit for excellence, nothing stood in her way making her victorious, a champion of the world. An inspirational poem from Mikko Mayedo depicting her moment of glory of becoming ‘the champion of the world’. (copyright with Mikko Mayedo)

(Mikko Mayeda – “Champion Over Adversity” – even though afflicted with MS and blind, she won 18 first place and 6 second of 24 equestrian entries from 1983 to 1987, and became an Olympic and International Champion.)

 

My wheelchair sparkled colors

In the New York sun

My horse at my side.

My hands tense,

Fingers curled nervously

Weakened eyes groping and unaware.

Glory in a moment’s breath,

Champion, or just another athlete.

Seconds to mount

I’m hoisted up to a throne of kings,

riding to a battle with no defeat.

The ring is dark to me, and foreign.

My walkie-talkie directs me smoothly.

My eyes set in blank distance.

My competitor is my own body,

the battle of illness against myself.

My back rests against the sky,

and I am free.

And when it is over,

my feet sink into my horse’s sides,

and relax with reassurance.

I’ve waited a lifetime

for this moment.

I look into a faded, blurry crowd.

They call my name.

I am champion of the world.

Posted in Say It Poetically |