English - Lesson 9: " Nine Gold Medals" - a poem written by David Roth (PUBLIC EXAMINATION)


 

NINE GOLD MEDALS

The athletes had come from all over the country

To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze

Many weeks and months of training

All coming down to these games.

You must have heard the term ‘Olympics’. Well, Olympics are held once every four years. Athletes from all over the world train hard to participate in this event. Winning a medal (gold, silver and bronze) in the Olympics is the ultimate goal of every athlete of the world. However, the setting or the scene of this poem is that of ‘Special Olympics’. Have you ever heard of the term ‘Special Olympics’? In these Olympics, differently abled persons, who have some problem/s in a particular part of the body, participate in various sports events. The contestants put in a lot of preparation and practice. Everyone hopes to win a medal. 

The spectators gathered around the old field

To cheer on all the young women and men

The final event of the day was approaching

Excitement grew high to begin.

 The spectators are as excited as the contestants who are youngsters. They cheer and encourage the contestants to win medals for their country. As the final moment on the day of sports event, all were awaiting anxiously with excitement.

These two stanzas help to create the setting of the poem.


The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them

The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run

These were nine resolved athletes in back of the starting line

Poised for the sound of the gun.


The signal was given, the pistol exploded

And so did the runners all charging ahead

But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered

And fell to the asphalt instead.


He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish

His dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt

But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story

The same goes for what next occurred.


The eight other runners pulled up on their heels

The ones who had trained for so long to compete

One by one they all turned around and went back to help him

And brought the young boy to his feet.


Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued

The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk

And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)

Could not have been more on the mark.


That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals

They came to the finish line holding hands still

And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces

Said more than these words ever will.

- David Roth


Terminal Questions and Answers

1. Complete the statements using the correct option from those given.

(i) The poem describes a

a. school Sports Day with participants from different schools

b. national sports event for women

c. national sports event for the differently-abled

(ii) The contestants of the race received a standing ovation because

a. they are challenged in various ways and not used to sports

b. they thought it more important to help than to get a medal

c. they don’t like competition and don’t care about winning

2. Who won the race and how? Explain in about 50 words.

3. Do you think the title of the poem is justified? How?

4. What is the central idea of the poem?

5. Have you ever witnessed any event in ‘Special Olympics’ in real life or on television? Describe it briefly.




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