The End

Short poem about a cross country race

The End

Anxiety, apprehension fill the brain
Rolling stomach, shaky knees
Reassuring coaches come to ease
Waiting for the gun to sound
Forgotten confidence in the lost and found
Deer in the headlights
Paralyzed with fear
The beginning, the end is almost near
Deflated sneakers
Like two bike flats
Off we go like scattered rats
Feeling like a Texas dog
Panting out of breath
Burning eyes, sting with sweat
Gaining ground
Like a drunken snail
Wishing, praying he could cut the trail
Frantically panicking
Desperations rising
His stepchild legs not obliging
Familiar faces watch with apathy
Even the hopeful glow in mother’s eye
Slowly dims and finally dies
Like the old man who once was king
Stumble, crumble toward the end
In sad defeat his life is spent