As Fast As You Can
feet pounding pavement
chest expanding
lungs sucking in
oxygen that’s never enough
depleting anger
dopamine spike
each thump against the concrete
feeling like
i hate you
i miss you
i love you
come back
come back
come back
i need you
i need me
i need to know
who i could be
and where am i going
and feet pounding
feet always pounding
because escaping comes
at the cost of self
control overrated
as sweat drips
from pores, burning
heat escaping
fingers cold—always cold
trails in the park
winter wind blows
i duck my head under
a low-hanging branch
and screech to a pause,
pulling in oxygen
for grateful lungs
expanding as I hunch,
doubled over, straighten
to look at the rising sun
and relax, finally
putting one foot in front
pushing off
keep going
until muscles scream
because for once,
the only thought in my head
is the feel of concrete
as my foot arches off
and connects
and the wind against
burning cheeks
and the sweat dripping
down my back
and the air that I gasp
that’s never enough
but enough to feel
alive.
