Two-Hundred Meter Dash

we set our spiked feet into the earth
the gun rises, fires, and we burst out
thundering into the curve i hear my father's cry
i gasp and race six others onto the straight
he stands as i go by and i hear him shout
no longer shouts of rage but of love

gasping again and blinded by watery eyes i
blink and see the finish line come into view
he screams for me to sprint with all my passion
and i honor him, running as fast as his love
and cheering will speed my pounding legs

it wasn't enough

desperate, i fell for him, threw myself
across the finish line onto the scraping ground
so that i might know sacrifice and we at last
might know victory