Back Next On Poor Ben Johnson

They poured into the body
chemicals to win
Winning is money
Money is fame

Into his mind
they poured
words for relaxation
Money is winning
Winning is fame

Morning till night
they exercised him
Money is fame
Fame is money
Money is winning
All for fame

He won the race
Olympic style

Pharmacists
Hypnotists
Managers
shadows in
the crowd

Poor Ben's ego
undrugged
unimbued
could shouldered
the disappointed competitor
coming to Ben's rejoice

Poor Ben's ego
smaller than small
no drugs enlarged
no hypnotist imbued
no managers inspired
carried his country's flag
g\dragging n the ground

Poor Ben
shall bear the guilt
The shadows
Pharmacists
Hypnotists
Managers
disappearing
blending with the crowd

Irwin R. Shaw - September 28th 1988