A Runner

Cherry

By Bee

Mon, 14 Apr 2014
  • 2752 reads
13 comments
 

Reach up, stretch back, block 
breath, fall forward,  
weight of skull, flex of spine 
opening vertebrae -
tension released through drop of hands -
feet grounded.

Unfold segment by segment, spine aligned 
in perfect posture. Rest
to side, reach over - sinews,
lengthening, muscles strengthening, cleansing,
toxins exhaled. Inhale, repeat 
to the opposite side. 

Heel back, lunge forward, feel 
the Achilles' tension. Shake out, stand, 
focus - breath in, sigh out - lope.

Pick up pace, breathe 
easy, tighten form, arms hauling, feet falling - 
lengthening stride.
Run. 

Greet the rush, bite of air, hunger of lungs. Blood 
pounding, heart thundering life 
through veins. Pain dissipates, cares evaporate. 
Nothing counts but the heat, the beat and the drumming 
pulse of feet meeting and leaving ground behind.

Prone, dreaming you can when no longer able
to be who you were - who you are 
in mind - will always be 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Jessiibear on

This is magnificent! I'm impressed :) 

I love the choppy feel and ease of flow. It reads so well and the feeling pulsing through it takes me aback. Very inspiring. 

Jess

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Jess, that's so nice to hear!

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I never was a runner - except to catch that bus (with  a stitch threatening!), just a plodder, which they say you need to be for mountain walking!
Lovely evocative rhythm and rhyme sound to 'but the heat, the beat and the drumming pulse of feet meeting and leaving ground behind.' Does the beginning describe the warming up and starting for a proper runner?
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Rhiannon - yes, the beginning is a brief warm-up - nothing like a spot of yoga to de stress. I also wanted to start off as slow as pos and build it up through the paces - hope that worked. Glad you liked the line you picked - I was quite pleased with that bit. 

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

Has a lovely flow to it, a lengthening and extension within the language itself which accentuates the yogic subject.  Very well chosen language and a pleasure  to read. Made me want to do a few old poses, pretend I'm an old pro.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Vera. 

Go for it! They say that exercise can make you live longer - or does it just feel like it?

Glad you thought this flowed well and that the language worked well with the subject.

Thank you.

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee

I picked up on the rythym and felt quite worn out from all that exercise by the end. Very clever and interesting use of words.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Jean. Sorry for tiring you, though.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

As has been said, Bee, a clever poem, both technically, and linguistically.  Well done on the cherries.

Tinasmiley

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Tina - for the words and for the sunny smile:)

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, kind person, for the cherries!

Bee

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

A poem that is effective as a stand alone and also as a tribute to Pheippades and, last Saturday to Robert Berry. And to many in between               Elsie

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Elsie. I was thinking of Robert Berry. 

Bee