Ralph - You Are Behind Schedule

Before the marathon began, I walked First Avenue, Aware 100,000 feet Would soon come pounding through. The do-not-cross tape waited And the police were getting set To control the hordes of cheering fans Who hadn’t gathered yet. Since some apartments face the street, Their balconies supply A place for friends to stand and shout As runners hurry by. From one such place, I saw a sign To jokingly remind A guy named Ralph, despite his plans, He’s lumbering behind. I wish I could have witnessed Ralph As, passing, he took note, Of the presence of his buddies And the message that they wrote. (The title is what the sign actually said.)