The Olympic Torch Poem by Jim Yerman

November 9th of this year while the International Space Station swayed
2 Cosmonauts took a spacewalk and history was made.

They exited the station, the whole of space was now their porch,
And with them they had taken the Sochi Olympic torch.

They simulated with that torch an on-Earth relay race
The first time the Olympic torch had been in outer space.

It’s funny when I see the Olympic torch something in my head abruptly clicks
And immediately I’m transported back to 1966.

July 2 1996, to be exact, I’ll never forget that date
It was the summer orientation I took Bryan to Florida State.

The date is etched inside my head and always makes me frown
It’s the day the Atlanta Olympic torch was relayed through the town.

We were having such a wonderful time, the orientation was going well
But it was July in Tallahassee and it was hot as hell.

We were sweating so much in the Florida heat that our stamina started to fade
So we bought ourselves 2 giant bottles of ice cold Gatorade.

But as anyone who’s ever drunk a gallon of Gatorade will know
Sooner or later after you finish...you’re going to have to go.

So we stopped to use the restroom in some building made of brick
(And here’s the part that when I think back always makes me sick.)

First a little history to put things in context
It’s the Olympic flame that’s relayed from one venue to the next.

From New York City, to Chicago, from Tallahassee to Sacramento
The person who carries the flame keeps the torch as a memento.

We had just finished in the bathroom when a runner in a voice so deep and low
Said, ‘Could you please hold this for me, I really have to go.”

He handed Bryan the Olympic torch and though we did not get his name
We knew it was the same torch that would soon carry the Olympic flame.

I quickly took out my camera, “Bryan, raise it up and smile at me.”
I wanted to capture that particular moment for all eternity.

“Now it’s my turn, ” I said, but something happened we couldn’t prevent
The man exited the stall, took the torch, thanked Bryan and off we went.

“Dad don’t worry, ” Bryan comforted as we both watched that runner flee
“By the way, did you get my good side when you snapped that shot of me? ”

Later we watched that same man carry the flame held high with pride
I applauded with the multitude but my disappointment I couldn’t hide.

You see I couldn’t help thinking from the safety of the stands
That I would have got to hold it too, if he’d only washed his hands!

Doctors have a list of reasons why we should wash after exiting the stall
I’m sure me holding the Olympic torch isn’t on that list at all...

In retrospect it was a wonderful moment...one fortuitous vignette
When Bryan got to hold the torch...a moment we’ll never forget.

Yes that day Bryan got a great picture one for all his friends to see
While all I got was this story and one painful memory.