Fast Ran the Athlete

 By: Niki Isaac

Inspired by Fast rode the knight by :Stephen Crane

ran the athlete

With sneakers hot and sweaty

Ever flashing his winning smile

“To save my title”

Fast ran the athlete

And leaped from the ground to hurtle

Men of sweat gleamed and shone  

Like a race between life or death

And the dream of a new gold medal

Still bounced on the walls of their head

……

A medal,

Golden, aspirational, grand thing,

Forgotten underneath the bench.

A medal,

Chipped underneath the bench