Ilia on Ice - Feb. 18, 2026

When Ilia’s steel blade first

failed to bite the ice, he performed

an unrehearsed butt rotation

and a teeth-sucking sound

was heard whirling out chimneys,

vents and open windows

after America’s spin king

fell two more times, baritone

groans became hopeless growls

and he shambled off, head bent,

shattered by his complete letdown,

tears begging to be free

in sports, failure keeps a ruthless

score, no points for expectation or effort,

deductions for being too human

but Ilia did win something in

these Olympics

he crossed the finish line

carried on the shoulders

of a few million hearts