Gold
For Eric Radford
our fathers worked together under-
ground while you on the surface
gracefully chiseled the ice
the only boy figure skater
in town bullies taunted
you with their hockey
sticks. all of us children
of goldminers, and you
decorated with multiple
metals now win gold: Olympic
girl in your hands the first time
you threw her she landed
perfectly. scared of
heights she trusts you to
twirl her above your head.
soulmates. your hidden self
shared with the world. fear
is a sound in the inner
ear but has no refuge
there. courage is your world
