The Final Lap



The leg drags
Around the track
Another lap
And another

Slow motion joggers
An old man leaning
An old woman leading
And setting the pace
After all these years

Around and around they go
Quarter mile after
Quarter mile
Monotonously rhythmic nightly ritual
Religiously re-enacted

Recalling other races
Other tracks
And other nights
He smiles

Running under lights now
The crowd rising to its feet
Assaulting him with a violent
Insistent roar
He rounds the far turn pushing hard
Starts his kick
Feels the muscles pumping
Straining
Then betraying him as he nears the tape

The leg drags
Around the track
Another lap
And another

Recalling other moments
Other journeys
And other times
She smiles

She is the young bride now
Running down church steps
Sprinting past rice and confetti
Tossing bouquets to eager hands
The expectant mother
Six hours into heavy labor
She moves to delivery
Pushing hard
Feet in stirrups
Muscles pumping
Straining
She calls out his name

The leg drags
Around the track
Another lap
And another

Slow motion joggers
Together now
An old man leaning
An old woman leading
And setting the pace
After all these years

They near the tape
And hearing the roar of the crowd
They smile
Crossing the line together