Who amongst us has not dreamed
Of standing upon the victor's platform
High above the throng of cheering peers
Recieiving the presentation of a
Wooden-based, tall stemmed
Plasticated chrome and brass-plated
Cup or even figure-topped
Expression of accomplishment?
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Yet those ancient Olympians
When the race was finally won
The disc thrown the farthest
The opponent wrestled to the ground
Had no such awkward bulky
Or dust catching mantlepiece
To declare their athletic prowess
For all they were given was a stone.
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A stone well chosen and polished
Various shapes and sizes
Large stones and small stones
With only names and dates engraved
A source of pride to those
Whose labor was rewarded with
A symbol of recognition from those
Whose admiration is written in stones.
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And I, too, will someday receive
A stone finely shaped and polished
Name engraved and dates hyphenated
Of my beginnning and my ending
And if only a word or two
Such as 'beloved husband and father'
or perhaps 'cherished wife and mother'
Then will I have received my trophy
Life's final recognition, the victor's stone.
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