there is no fanfare,
no spot on a dais
nor humble expression required.
Fourth place—in itself—is already humility.
There will be no need
for the fourth place winner to attend
the celebratory dinner,
no need to prepare a speech,
thanking Mom and Dad, and possibly
a surprise figure from his past.
Mom and Dad are secretly embarrassed
–for all that they say otherwise–
since the fourth place winner
should understand now
(instead of later)
that there is no fourth place.
Not really…
not in actual sporting events
and not in life,
and this rectangle of
criss-cut satin yellow
is panacea,
is the “no booing” rule
ramped up a notch,
is an eye-patch waiting to happen—
that Nobody applauds
a fourth place loser
not really…
Nobody is rooting for the winner!
(along with everybody else)
who is always
three steps ahead—
©Karen Robiscoe