The Running Man
Leg over leg
I watch
Oh once great majestic man
Stuffed with life and vigor
Stood atop the world
Champion
Once conqueror of mountains
Now crushed by pleasure
Turned animal of desire
Now the running re-claimer
Of past honors
Leg over leg
I watch
One step at a time
His lungs smashing against his insides,
As they fight for air,
Against a nicotine choke hold
Leg over leg
I watch
His feet
They burn,
Sprinting through a Savannah of flames
The weight of his past gluttony slows him down
And chains of sweets
Bind him to a mountain of food;
An animal
Hungry for progress
Leg over leg
I watch
A hurricane of alcoholic despair swells above him
As a downpour of liquor whips his beast of a body
And all that he has drank
Tries to wash him away
Leg over leg
I watch
His vision blurs,
The distant mountains and clouds begin to swirl,
The road ahead bends and buckles,
His legs vanish beneath him
And he greets the floor with open arms
I watch
His heart rages
Trapped in a cage
The animal pushes and pulls aggressively
Painfully biting against his chest
Until it finally becomes quiet
Still
Strangled by the smoke, grease and alcohol
Silencing all who witnessed their reign of terror
His body unmoving
Just inches from the finish line
Still
I watch
Copyright © Chad Gordon | Year Posted 2013
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