I have put together a short poem that looks at our obsession with sport stars as opposed to some of the ground breaking scientists over the ages – beginning in ancient Greece with Milo and Pythagoras (nothing has changed much in the last 3000 years).
I find it amusing that a lot of people (myself included) are more excited by the exploits of sportsmen than those of scientists. It’s just poking a bit of fun at that.
My poetry has appeared in about 30 Australian publications over the years, but truth be known, I’m first and foremost a sports nut.
The Sportsman or the Scientist?
The Sportsman or the Scientist:
who do we revere?
Milo or Pythagoras:
which one do we cheer?
Newton or DiMaggio:
which one got the girl?
Edison or Baggio:
who lit up the world?
Darwin’s worm or Tiger’s club:
which one do we prize?
Einstein’s rule or Ali’s glove:
which one makes us wise?
The Sportsman or the Scientist:
Who inspires us most?
Pele or Copernicus:
Who do we all toast?
Roger’s slice and Bradman’s whites,
and Michael Jordan’s leap
seem to set our youth alight,
but science makes them sleep.
How have we rewarded them
since the days of old?
A sportsman wins a trophy;
a scientist wins a scroll.
Recommend this story.
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February 10th 2010 @ 9:21am
Kersi Meher-Homji said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Elegant verse, Vinay. Equally elegant glance by Greg.
February 10th 2010 @ 9:22am
Kersi Meher-Homji said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Oops, it was a cut by Greg.
February 10th 2010 @ 9:27am
vinay verma said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Kersi,I couldn’t find a picture of GSC playing a glance and ZAc found this one. I can change the caption to THE KINDEST CUT
February 10th 2010 @ 9:50am
Kersi Meher-Homji said | February 10th 2010 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Cut or glance,
Greg is all class.
So are the rhymes,
From Verma and Balassone.
February 10th 2010 @ 10:10am
Damian Balassone said | February 10th 2010 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Thanks for the positive feedback. Vinay, I enjoyed your poem. I know you were referring to a leg glance, but for some reason, I pictured Arjuna Ranatunga’s deft little fine edges that kept beating 3rd man in 1996 World Cup Final. It must have been the wrist line.
February 10th 2010 @ 1:06pm
vinay verma said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
Clever,Damian,I’m sure you meant the waist line. I’ll blame the editors. But seriously,talking of Ranatunga he is a very forthright person and was removed from the Sri lanka Board because he had the temerity to call the IPL ” instant noodles.”
Keep the muse busy,lineman.