Photograph: Werner Schmidt

Friday, May 6, 2011

Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 6 - The Poem

Here is part 6 and the final ‘chapter’ of Ben Spock’s letter to Rusty Wailes. I am uncertain if Spock is the actual author of the poem, or if that was someone else in the crew. After the poem, you will find all the previous installments, which form Spock’s 9-page letter.

ON THE OLD SEINE YESTERDAY
The Stars and Strips still swept the sky,
How could the old flag fail?
When far away there came the cry,
“Costello and Kelly and Yale!”

There came the dip of mighty oars,
And then with conquering hail
The shout goes up from well-lined shores,
“Costello and Kelly and Yale!”

When great Olympic heroes meet
To find the Holy Grail,
Let all the booming sagas greet
Costello and Kelly and Yale.


See also:
“Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 1 – Prelude”
“Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 2 – Comparisons”
“Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 3 – The Trials”
“Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 4 – In France”
“Ben Spock On 1924 Olympic Eight: Part 5 – The Race”

Ben Spock’s letter is posted on HTBS with the permission of the NRF, which is the owner of the letter. Thank you NRF for making this letter available to the HTBS’s readers!

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