Athens, Greece, August 25, 2004
Gold-Medal Gal of Israel
By Sharon Esther Lampert (The Sexist Creative Genius in Human History)
Gal Friedman braves the vast expanse of the Aegean sea on a sail,
For an Olympic dream of glory, tactically flawless, without fail.
At his back, only a chattering wind, a squinting sun, and a buoyant wave,
He is hungry for an Olympic gold medal, that is all the athletic rave.
A windsurfing phenomenon in Atlanta, a bronze medal is in the bag.
He sings the beautiful "Hatikva" (The Hope), and hoists up the Israeli
flag.
For the first time in 52 years, there is a momentary freedom from fears.
"Mazel Tov!, Mazel Tov! " an olive-branch wreath sits on his head.
"Hellas!, Hellas!" our next-door Greek neighbor cheeringly said.
Still in his prime, at 29, he said, "I knew the gold medal was mine."
Tears of joy stream down his handsome and sunburnt face.
Gold-Medal Gal is the great champion of the windsurfing race.
Topping Nikolaos Kaklamanakis of Greece,
Nick Dempsey of Britain, and Ricardo Santos of Brazil,
Gold Medal Gal of Israel, wraps himself in our Israeli flag,
And becomes the first-ever Israeli athlete, in 12 Olympics to
Give our beloved nation of beleaguered Jewish heroes a thrill.
His family and fans yelled, "C'mon Gal," "Yalla, Yalla, Yalla."
On his surfboard, lands a white dove, a sign of peace from way up above.
All of Israel had stopped to watch the race,
Gold-Medal Gal delivers the gold, a divine gift of grace.
Gal means "wave" in Hebrew, and his fate and destiny are intertwined.
Waves of emotion overflow and flood the media airwaves with joy and
Pride, and great relief, from the Olympic tragedy of another time:
At the 1972 games in Munich, 11 innocent Israeli athletes and coaches
were kidnapped and
Murdered by Black September Palestinian terrorists who play an evil game
to achieve their fame.
Gal Friedman was not yet born, however, our country's heart was deeply
torn.
Ready for Action: lining the waterfront, soldiers tote machine guns and
are ready to run.
In a change of wind, Olympic dreams live in split seconds of glory that
last a lifetime,
Or die in split seconds of defeat, drowning the dream in a silent scream.
Every Olympian waits to see the results: will I be happy or will I be sad?
Did I break a world record or will I be mad? Will I have to explain my
defeat
On missing a beat to the hysterical Yenta Central media?
Or will my mother see my fabulous finish on the front cover...
Of the Jerusalem Post and The New York Times?
Will Prime Minister Sharon call to congratulate me on my gain,
Or will my Coach Gur Steinberg share my four lost years of injury and
pain.
Extreme focus. The pressure is peaking. He is the embodiment of a
national hero.
Ready for Action: Gal Friedman delivers the gold, and Israel has a joy
to behold.
Sharon Esther Lampert
Sexiest Creative Genius in Human History
8th Prophetess of Israel: 22 Commandments
http://www.poetryjewels.com
