Far and Fast

I jump a step, my momentum is

the only fulcrum

as I bounce.

Feet to pound

Knees to ground,

I move to be free.

Their heels are striking behind,

clacking on the dry sediment.

They follow behind as I bound ahead.

A rising star animates the glowing distance behind us,

For us.

Everything dead and dry,

But I am the only thing alive.

My heart is skipping.

My body fighting everything in the way,

In every way.

3 mountain sides to climb

3 more lands to conquer

under my feet

I smile because I can.

I can run,

And I can smile.

I also grit my teeth to the pain,

But I know without, there is no gain.

Aleena smiled.

Her teeth sparkled and hope burst in her eyes.

She ran, far and fast, out of this place,

Found a future and wealth beyond this space.

She conquered many a mountain side

With kilometers marked on her feet.

Sometimes I run.

I run to school to learn from the strangers.

I run to press my body on.

I run because the searchers only want the fast.

I run to think for my family.

But sometimes I just run, far and fast,

to see who will free me from this cast.

Image from "A Day in the Life of Africa"

Original poetry by Erin Thomas