Olympic Poetry Friday

It was a thrill to be in London right before the Olympics, even though we didn't make it to the games.

Olympic countdown clock in Trafalgar Square (which was oddly free of pigeons).

My kids are getting a kick out of watching pre-Olympics news coverage. They spot sites we visited and say, "We were there!" (They even saw our Tower of London tour guide.)

Tower Bridge seen from the Tower of London's grounds.

Because I live near Baltimore, home of Michael Phelps, swimming is a big story here. No poet has written about swimming with the beauty and depth of understanding Maxine Kumin has for the sport. According to the Poetry Archive, Kumin was a competitive swimmer as a child. (She has also written books for children, which I will have to check out.)


Here is her poem, "To Swim, To Believe"

To Swim, To Believe

by Maxine Kumin

Centre College, Danville, Kentucky

The beautiful excess of Jesus on the waters

is with me now in the Boles Natatorium.

This bud of me exults, giving witness:

these flippers that rose up to be arms.

These strings drawn to be fingers.

Legs plumped to make my useful fork.

Each time I tear this seam to enter,

all that I carry is taken from me,

shucked in the dive.

Lovers, children, even words go under.

Matters of dogma spin off in the freestyle

earning that mid-pool spurt, like faith.

Where have I come from? Where am I going?

Read the rest at  Ed Hirsch's "Poet's Choice."

One of my favorite concrete poems -- more subtle than most shape poems -- is Kumin's "400 Meter Freestyle," which you can find here, with questions for the classroom. The swimmer in "400 Meter Freestyle" is racing. This one's a good fit if you're looking for Olympics-themed poems.

So long, from Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square!

Enjoy this Friday's poetry posts by visiting Life is Better with Books. If you have a moment, please vote for my blog -- Author Amok has been nominated for a Fascination Award. The voting page has been updated and you can now vote.