" LONG DISTANCE RUNNER "

Slender,
    perfect silhouette,
breathing in the competition
the Olympic tradition
held in check,
for heartbeats mean more
in each elongated step
toward victory..

Is it in glory
      or the definition,
driving them onward
beyond themselves,
beyond the hurt,
beyond immeasurable hours,
or their very heartbeats
damaged,
that brings them
self respect?..

Such a wondrous
machine,
the human body
capable of so much more,
than it's created for,
when pushed beyond
the endless summer,
a physical wonder,
the long-distance
runner..

Tony Taylor.  (Chicago)