Human Race

The fisherman: evening effect by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, c. 1865.

black track

blue sky

the gun raised high

it’s all a question of…

to soar with the shot

to the end

of the wind

to the bend

of the track

with the sun

at your back

at your side

in your eyes

with your spikes

in the ground

in the grit

in the sound

of the guy

at your back

at your side

and the dust

in your eye

in the stretch

and the fire

in your throat

at the line

as you jog

to a stop

to rest

in the cool, cool grass

it was all a question of…

(written spring 1965 in Brentwood, Essex, England)

List of Richard’s other poems, jokes, stories and essays.