It was the cold war all over again
as nations sparred for victory
in the new Olympian tradition
of women’s boxing competition
and the citizens of Bray
boxed into the clubs and pubs,
clenched long necks in the heat
as she fought the final heath
and hooked her silver into gold,
lifted us off the canvass floor,
kept the blows at arm’s length.
knocked out our national discontent.
She showboated after her fight of dreams
to the punch of the nation’s triumphant screams.
© John Saunders
Taylor wins to take Olympic boxing gold for Ireland
John's first collection ‘After the Accident’ was published in 2010 by Lapwing Press, Belfast. He is one of three featured poets in Measuring, Emerging Writers, published by Dedalus Press in May 2012.
