Notes About The Poem
The events in the poem happened to my brother, not to me, I'm the poet in the family, so this is my effort to tell the tale. I think this kind of story is unique to America, because we have the wide open spaces (or did).
Wind at our back
Title: Wind on our back
A camp counselor once, I thought I should glide
I ran fifteen miles, at the airport applied
A pilot took me up, above the Pocono grass
But I got airsick when the plane took a pass.
The pilot didn't want me throwing up in his plane
He dived to the ground, like an eagle gone insane
So I learned I can't soar, on the road I can glide.
Nothing wrong though with my having tried.
As a teen I ran track at Avebury High
Sometimes slow, rarely fast, I wouldn't want to lie
Then in college I hatched a different scheme
I wouldn't compete, just run with the team.
The coach sat us down, asked our time and event
Each kid's time incredible, I knew what that meant
I said "Skip me, please" ready to escape out the door
But their good natured laughter rose to a roar.
At the U of Delaware, I tried the same scheme
I didn't compete, just ran with the team
Came by in street clothes one day, but led the pack
Then the captain sprinted, a successful attack.
[chorus]
It was a healthy time, and my pace improved,
It was fun to go fast, and with grace I moved.
When you're in great shape the road ahead seems free,
Like running with the wind, like sailing on the sea.
I had short encounters on roads and trails
Other runners, unassuming, but tough as nails
I caught up with a Marine, matched his stride,
"I love hills!" he said, a matter of pride.
On a back road ran a woman, a running blonde blaze
I caught up, but there was steel in her gaze
"Don't bother", she said, "I've run men into the ground"
I had a brief vision of scattered bodies around.
She was swift, and no doubt those guys lost face
But she had thrown the gauntlet, I had to keep pace.
Two runs I remember, they were so nice
One Delaware winter, trees sparkling with ice,
And with Westchester Roadrunners in fields of lush green
Don't know how I kept up, but magic in the scene.
[outro]
That was 40 years ago, but when night descends,
I think back to running with two teams of new friends
At Manhattan, then Delaware, both let me come
Wherever they are now, long may they run.
And may the wind be always at their back
On life's winding path, or off the main track.
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