Second Annual Wild Violet Writing Contest Winners (2004)
Poetry
— Second Place
Gary McGaha's poem, "Straying, Discovering, Escaping, and Everything," has been selected for publication in the 2004 edition of the poetry anthology, Reflections, published by JMW Publishing Company.
The
Run of the Course
By Gary McGaha
I'm runnin', runnin'
I'm just runnin', runnin'
I've barely started
I've almost finished
I could run for miles
Wait — I already have
The road stretches on
I run on
I'm runnin', runnin'
I pass an old house
It's about to collapse
Not like me
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm runnin', runnin'
I pass an old church
There's a casket
Poor guy or gal
Didn't know how to survive
Not like me
I'm runnin'
I'm just runnin', runnin'
I run by a lake
Some guy's wavin' for help
He's drownin', poor guy
I'd like to help him
But I got no time
'Cause I'm runnin', runnin'
I run by a park
There's a couple in the grass
They don't care who sees
Doesn't bother me
No time for that, either
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm runnin', runnin'
I go past a playground
Kids are playin' there
They look so happy
So happy
But I'm happy, too
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm runnin', runnin'
I go past a store
They're sellin' some strange things
And so close to the kids
That don't seem right
But I got no time to complain
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm just runnin', runnin'
I pass a bank
Looks like a robbery
Here comes one of the thieves
There goes one of the thieves
I got no time to interfere
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm runnin', runnin'
I pass a parkin' lot
Some thug's beatin' up a guy
Pretty bold in broad daylight
I'd like to help the poor guy
But I got no time
'Cause I'm runnin'
I'm just runnin', runnin'
I meet another runner
We exchange a few words
He says he's about to quit
He stops and says goodbye
Beats me how he could stop
I won't stop for miles yet
I'm runnin', runnin'
I'm just runnin', runnin'
At the end of the day
I'll be runnin', runnin'
I'll just be runnin', runnin'
Yes, I'll be runnin'