On Your Mark, Get Set….

My foot on the starting line

Ready, Ready, (maybe)

My breath in and in and in

A flag about to raise

 

My pulse

Quickening

My legs

Twitching

The stadium

Quiet

 

Flag raises and…yes!

I am off

I run free and fast

Away from

All of it

 

As I round the corner

He is there

And I sputter

Trip, Twist, Regain

 

Off again, panting

And as I turn and spy him

In my rearview

I silently tell him

 

To fuck off.

 

photo by Barbara Paulsen at Tandem Echoes