My Funny Valentines

My Funny Valentines




(dedicated to the Walton H.S. Winterguard Fashion 1993 before their winning the Southeastern Championship and before becoming a Winterguard International Finalist., APRIL 1994).



As I stood, with my back arched, my chin held high,

I thought,

“I cannot take this anymore…I don’t want to lose.

The competition is too great; they are all too good.”

I felt the tension in my back grind its way up my spine

To my brain.

I choked back the tears.

“I cannot lose,” I thought. “Not again. The work has been too hard, the fear too real;

The hours too long; the pain too great.”



They all said that we would fall apart.



I stood with my chin held high

In front of an audience too large, too critical, to show any form of weakness, I stood with my chin held high.



I thought, “I cannot lose. It would be undignified.”



Before they called out the scores, this raced through my mind,

And I knew what I learned from Winterguard and from you…

I had already won.



On Southeastern Championships 1993

Love, Mr. R