i tried my best

to keep a stride
running up brighton road
late for school
     again
the graveyard monument stones
polished grey
standing up in the showroom window
watching me as i passed
on the balls of my feet

there was another track meet today

i wish the coach would stop trying
to make me a sprinter
i was strictly a long distancer

about the time i walked into homeroom

the bell for first period began
but it was just more machiavellian history
i was late for
and just cunning enough
to have memorized
the day's assignment

i ditched another class

that afternoon
and threaded new spikes
into my shoes

--- e b bortz