Ode to thee horrible treadmill
As you call to me to start the day
Have thee no mercy treadmill
Thou instrument of torture today
As I climb onto your dark track
Quick start before resistance wins
Thou spinning tracks now attack
It's time to pay for my eating sins
Oh wow now the speed begins
Too much too much I cry at last
Hear the playing of the violins
Labored voice where AED I asked
Slow down unforgiving treadmill
I despise to be treated this way
Heart rate screams on this hill
The nausea refuses to go away
Resistance is futile in the last
Mile after mile on dark track
I'm having such a sarcastic blast
The mental sanity now cracks
Oh treadmill a tenth left on thee
Each second seems an eternity
Yes! I have reached the end hehe
I now rush to vomit with urgency
Mondays are usually a drag
while Fridays burst with excitement without fail
~ we’re hamsters at the treadmill
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
he's a treadmill
living palindromic days
real time
which doesn't help
neither does his lawyer
but victimaholic attitudes
those aches and pains
in dust filled boxes
aspiring to move away
unfortunately for him
his shadow
and his tambourine
are just where
he likes them
Trudging exhausted, weary and spent
Revolving in an ennui which will not relent
Each step closer to nowhere, be it fast or slow
As days crawl by friends come and they go
Dawn ushers forth a grand gift of renewel
Moon offers solace, serene bright and cool
Inside this cage I sense the light
Lost is my soul, a Sisyphus plight
Let my spirit take flight in the grace of night
A distant rumble
Not thunder…a plane?
Remember when they broke
The sound barrier
Shook the house
Made the dog pee …right there
I think I hear the sun laugh
Y’know…that ha – ha
Its gonna rain for three days
You’re gonna miss me laugh
The moon just smiled
Its rocking chair smile
the baby ground hog
is fattening up nicely
the dandelions are away for the fourth
I think I’ll risk flying the flag
Y’know, that old tattered one
The Red, White, and Blue one
I got new windshield wipers
It probably won’t rain
Time’s up….
John G. Lawless
©6/23/2023
What life is this when all is not enough?
Each goal achieved precurses one more need
And worldly goods, my bloated ego bluff,
Enslaving me in this sad selfish greed.
The thrill of each success soon flashes past.
Eyes focus then on some new gleaming prize,
Spurred on by hunger, it is mine at last!
I gloat, but then the fire within me dies.
As on wheel’s rim my life flies ever round,
Endures the highs and lows of ev’ry turn.
Desire my master, it does but confound
All logic, yet my tortured senses burn.
Achievements such as these, so dearly bought,
Bring not the love nor happiness I sought.
It’s a rainy, snowy Tuesday morning, so I headed to our fitness center (in the basement) to walk on a treadmill. On arrival there were four or five guys there. There was a time when that would have been reason enough for me to not go in - if I was alone - I’d skip it, but I feel more at home now.
Late one Sunday night I decided to treadmill. A few guys were there on the weight-cable-machines at the far end of the room (it’s huge) and I decided give it a try anyway.
As I was setting up to walk, this one string-bean of a guy did an funny, exaggerated flex in my direction, saying loudly, “I’m the man of your DREAMS!”
To which I quipped back, “The man of MY dreams would do my chemistry fact-sheet.” (homework)
Which got a laugh from the guys who went back to their workout - ignoring me. That’s when I began to relax.
I need a newer, bigger, better, object of desire.
My friend has purchased just the thing and really stoked the fire.
I’ll work another shift to find the money it will cost.
And never give a single thought to memories I have lost.
But for a moment caught in time, I’ll have the very best.
Look down upon my peers below me, scrambling and stressed.
It looks so grand just sitting there, my friends all ah and ooh
I’m quite ashamed to say I've not a clue what it will do.
The golden king of days,
ruling sky just for hours.
Sparkling jewels of nights,
fading at destined time.
Dipped in wealthy waters,
ah! dark days yet to come.
If feet are soaked in mud,
yes! sun is rising soon.
Slowing down the motor,
running low on gas
The lies, the HOV lane,
the truth off in the grass
The speed counterproductive,
it warps and then transforms
The magic in the stillness,
the beauty heaven born
The light becomes a blurring,
as darkness settles in
Till stepping off the madness,
and travelling within
That fatal rush to judgment,
a quiet now sustains
One choice to stop the treadmill
—all motion rearranged
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2017)
Slowing down the motor,
running low on gas
The lies, the HOV lane,
the truth off in the grass
The speed counterproductive,
it warps and then transforms
The magic in the stillness,
the beauty heaven born
The light becomes a blurring,
as darkness settles in
Till stepping off the madness,
and travelling within
That fatal rush to judgment,
a quiet now sustains
One choice to stop the treadmill,
—all motion rearranged
(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2017)
My love
Was like
Running a race
But on a treadmill
I will always keep running
Keep loving
Even though
I will never
Reach my destination
Light is fading
It’s cold, abrasive
Facing longer nights
Green leaves mellow
Brown and yellow
Autumn has arrived
Misty mornings
Clock alarming
Body sense awry
Feel so jaded
Last night’s raving
Flashing through your mind
Drink hot coffee
Rush to catch the
Seven thirty-five
On the treadmill
Routine, thankful
Work keeps hope alive
Simply crazy when, every now and then
You want to bash your head against the wall
No longer feeling worth it all
Like you always thought you would
You live the life you choose
Or are you being used?
Now faking it, doesn’t raise a hit
You forfeit all or run with it
Lucky to be paid
And maybe later, dream of getting laid
Light is fading
It’s cold, abrasive
Facing longer nights
Green leaves mellow
Brown and yellow
Autumn has arrived
I’M ON A TREADMILL
HOLDING ON TIGHT
RIGHT FOOT IN FRONT OF LEFT
LEFT FOOT IN FRONT OF RIGHT
BUT I DON’T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE
I MUST KEEP MOVING
HOWEVER
OR I WILL TRIP
AND FALL
THE SPEED MAY VARY
THE SURROUNDINGS MAY CHANGE
RIGHT FOOT IN FRONT OF LEFT
LEFT FOOT IN FRONT OF RIGHT
BUT I DON’T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE
I MUST KEEP MOVING
HOWEVER
OR I WILL TRIP
AND FALL
I PUSH THE STOP BUTTON
AND RETURN THE NEXT DAY
RIGHT FOOT IN FRONT OF LEFT
LEFT FOOT IN FRONT OF RIGHT
BUT I DON’T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE
I MUST KEEP MOVING
HOWEVER
UNTIL I FALL
There is treadmill now a time
Always thinking & acting like a mime,
Ready to carry the burden of anyone
But is even bounded by expectations of everyone.
10, 20, 40, 50 till 150 kgs. is its limitation
For god’s sake don’t increase your expectation,
It is always ready to help to reduce your weight
But its only possible if you are going to cooperate.
Run, run on it till you perspire
It’s the only thing you require,
There will be a time when it will be replaced
By some other machine in great disgrace.
Its now or never
Don’t cry and pain your liver,
Take the advantage of this great invention of the millennium
Which we use to call a treadmill with a great enthusiasm.
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