Anais Vionet Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Nonstop compromise

I didn’t feel like running today
Some days I don’t—but I do.

I’ve never finished a run thinking,“I’m sorry I did that.”
I always feel empowered, powerful and ready to deal.

I have blisters on two toes but that doesn’t matter.
Pain is an administrative problem—I just wrap them 
with paper surgical tape and run.

I also buy these 1" Polyurethane foam sheets (from Amazon),
that I cut to fit my feet—stuffing them in my socks for padding
—as if I were a professional athlete.

We don’t flinch beneath the heat, cold or rain,
and we don’t prevaricate or complain.

While I believe that life, otherwise, is pretty much nonstop compromise,
I reserve a protected territory for self-respect—where I practice small acts
of discipline—which I can track.
.
.
Songs for this:
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Somebody's Going to Get Into This House by Jane Wiedlin

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Arlo Parker September 14, 2026 at 2:34 PM blistered tiny feet fleeting across Parisian champs heading toward perfection 🌙⭐🌹

Vincine Fallica September 14, 2026 at 12:36 PM I used to run & bike. Not as religiously as you, but often enough. Then work & life demands got in the way for decades. Now I’m retired and have all the time in the world, usually. Planet Fitness is my daily fix to forestall decrepitude. Got some moleskin for my feet myself today. Tape doesn't cut it. Anais, don't get old./ I like the photo. I like seeing your different facets. / 💛