Translating the British, 2012, Carol Ann Duffy 

it was written exclusively for the Daily Mirror.

A summer of rain, then a gap in the clouds

and The Queen jumped from the sky

to the cheering crowds.

We speak Shakespeare here,

a hundred tongues, one-voiced; the moon bronze or silver,

sun gold, from Cardiff to Edinburgh

by way of London Town,

on the Giant's Causeway;

we say we want to be who we truly are,

now, we roar it. Welcome to us.

We've had our pockets picked,

the soft, white hands of bankers,

bold as brass, filching our gold, our silver;

we want it back.

We are Mo Farah lifting the 10,000 metres gold.

We want new running-tracks in his name.

For Jessica Ennis, the same; for the Brownlee brothers,

Rutherford, Ohuruogu, Whitlock, Tweddle,

for every medal earned,

we want school playing fields returned.

Enough of the soundbite abstract nouns,

austerity, policy, legacy, of tightening metaphorical belts;

we got on our real bikes,

for we are Bradley Wiggins,

side-burned, Mod, god;

we are Sir Chris Hoy,

Laura Trott, Victoria Pendleton, Kenny, Hindes,

Clancy, Burke, Kennaugh and Geraint Thomas,

Olympian names.

We want more cycle lanes.

Or we saddled our steed,

or we paddled our own canoe,

or we rowed in an eight or a four or a two;

our names, Glover and Stanning; Baillie and Stott;

Adlington, Ainslie, Wilson, Murray,

Valegro (Dujardin's horse).

We saw what we did. We are Nicola Adams and Jade Jones,

bring on the fighting kids.

We sense new weather.

We are on our marks. We are all in this together.

What a great poem! I have loved these past 2 weeks. They have gone so quickly but are full of forever memories. I have shared so many of them with my wonderful family. Our nest has resounded with cheers and tears. The events we have attended have been inspiring, well organised and wonderful. I wish I could have taken you all with me tucked into my pocket - to stand with us and sing our hearts out to the National Anthem at the rowing, to see the smile break out over Alistair Brownlee's face and to stand on the bend as the peleton rounded it to the cheers of the crowd. To have you sit with us last night as we cheered and shouted for Mo, awe struck by Bolt or to sit  with me in my kitchen waiting to hear the cheers from the others as Tom dived cleanly into the pool. We have made lists of our best moments which cover 4 pages and a list of 'ducks' we would give to those who have come fourth or tried their best and been disappointed. We are so proud of our boys and girlies who have done their best and given their all. Bring on the Paralympics!