Is it appropriate to leave someone behind in the time of sorrow?

In the context of the poem Nine Gold Medals by David Roth, it is not appropriate to leave someone behind in a time of sorrow or struggle. The poem teaches the values of compassion, unity, and sportsmanship, showing that true victory lies in helping others rather than just personal achievement.

Context from the Poem

• The poem describes a special Olympics race, where one of the participants falls.
• Instead of continuing to compete, the other eight athletes stop and help the fallen runner, choosing solidarity over individual success.
• In the end, they cross the finish line together, proving that human kindness is greater than winning a medal.

Moral Lesson

• Just as the athletes in the poem chose to support their struggling competitor, we should not abandon others in their time of sorrow.
• True greatness is found in empathy and helping those in need, not in selfish pursuits of personal glory.

Thus, Nine Gold Medals strongly emphasizes that leaving someone behind in sorrow is wrong, as real victory is shared, not solitary.