Distances
From sitting to running
No stretching
Aching of cold muscles
Achilles tendon straining
But I will make it
Feeling every part of my body
My mouth dry,
Body sweaty
And a long drawn out recovery
Muscles have memories too
Can recall some part of them
Each run
Each missed ball
Or driving run at Kenwood
The upward slope from school
Each run in each tendon placed
But one run
Dominates them all
Two or three hundred meters
Flat conditions
Sand, shells, water
Wind behind
Sun in front
Towards cabbage creek
From the end of five bridges
One moment head and torso
Were in view
The next he was below
Running thoughtless only looking
Unaware I had began
Before I was splashing
Through shallows
Towards him
The girl, the thin, older, one,
Had his head up
His face towards me
Carried him across the sand
Not out of breath
No pain
Our two wet bodies as one.
Dadhood 