Silver

The U.S. hockey team got silver
Though they wanted gold;
The sour expressions they displayed
Were startling to behold.

They bowed their heads to take their prize
And not one cracked a smile;
To wallow in despondency
Seemed very juvenile.

In every competition
There are losers more than winners,
And disappointment’s not reserved
For only the beginners.

Most athletes on the podium
Looked thrilled with even third;
A few exceptions sulked, though,
Not accepting what occurred.

So many great competitors
Don’t ever earn a medal,
But most of them accept their fate
And proudly, they do settle.

I understand our hockey guys
And know just how they feel,
But looking so dejected
Didn’t add to their appeal.

Apolo Ohno said it best:
They should stand tall and proud.
They’ve earned their place in history
Before a cheering crowd.

We cannot always grab the gold -
Sometimes we have to lose;
But how we handle our defeat
Is what we get to choose.