the olympics

watching the parade of nations
is really quite eye opening
because you watch all these people
all these nations
and you realize how we're all related
how similar we all are.

every time a country walks in
someone announces their name
not just on television
but in the family room as well

jamaica walks in and i can hear my next door neighbor screaming.
israelwalks in and my grandmother is screaming.
uruguay walks in and i'm thinking of gabe saporta, silly, i know.
i can almost smell how good the indian people probably smell.
i know my cousins are screaming their heads off when the canadians walk by.
i used to go to school with someone from argentina, now i babysit his sister on saturdays.
my dad, when he claps, it's really loud, and that's what we hear when latvia walks in.
my brother is discussing how one of the divers from great britain is his age.
i'm watching france walk in and smirking, because i'd probably understand most of what their saying.
my brother shouts "america!" as the u.s.a. walks on.
my brother is friends with an irish punk band, so when ireland walks in he yells "defiance."
across the street from me, i have neighbors from haiti.
i'm thinking of one of my friends when the philippines walk on, he's from there and he goes there almost every summer.
and my neighbors are probably joyed when they see vietnam walk on.
i have to point out portugal to my grandma but when she notices it's them i can hear the smile on her face.
new zealand walks on and now i'm thinking of stereogram, a band barely anyone remembers, but are/were really good.
those from italy look as if they are all part of one big extended family
my brother mentions a friend of his who moved back to serbia when the serbian team walks on.
a man from germany has the five rings shaved off from his hair, it's that kind of excitement that is fun to watch.
austrailia looks like they are having a blast. i think of michael guy chislett. always with the bands, but when it applies, i like to make mention.

i watch spain walk through
raphael nadal is a tennis player
and he is gorgeous
my grandmother is saying that he is cute too

my family and i were arguing over whether or not the green shirts of the lithuanians were a good choice
i thought they were pretty

antigua is pronounced an-tee-gah
and not an-tee-gWa

a guy from finland looked like he did the shut up and let me go sign
it made me chuckle just a little
at where my mind is, and all

both canada and the u.s.a.
upon noticing cameras
excitedly scream, shout, and cheer towards them

my grandmother keeps asking
"where are the netharlands? where are the netherlands?"

austria are filled with glee and energy as they walk in
starting a group cheer

one guy walked in holding his nations flag in one hand.
perfectly straight.
i think he was from denmark.
and the look on his face was unlike any else.
what a look of pride.

finally, out walks china
with a face that even i recognize holding the flag
a mr. yao ming
next to him is a little kid
lin hao
who saved some of his classmates
because he felt it was his job as the hall monitor
yao keeps putting the edge of the flag in the boys face
just for giggles.

it's beautiful watching all the people walk through
holding their cameras and camcorders
and laughing with their friends

all the smiles are beautiful.
especially on the flag holders.
their smiles are brightest.
i wonder how they must feel at that moment in time.

the guy looks like he is running across the top of the stadium.
AND THE OLYMPIC TORCH IS LIT.
and the city goes up in fireworks.
how amazing.
how beautiful.