a brief mirage

behind

the joy and sportsmanship,

there's cheating

and lying,

deception,

complaining and whining.

objections.

protests

and denials,

mistakes

and triumphs.

there's congeniality

too,

and love, or something

like love.

the swords

have been stowed away 

for a short while.

the races

are run, the jumps made,

the laps

completed.

the prizes have all been

given out.

it truly is the world

at large.

a mirror of sorts.

a brief,

but needed mirage.