The Track

This winter I’m mostly running outside but occasionally, I run inside at a track. I decided to experiment with some different poetics forms for describing that experience.

Lune

slick snow cold
outside inside warm
dry boring

Acrostic

Trying to
Remember what lap I’m on is
Always a struggle–why is
Counting so hard? Why can’t I ever
Keep track?

Tanka

Running in circles
around the track—-more effort
than inspiration
never quite getting anywhere
but back to where you just were.

Villanelle

A Run Around the Track Isn’t Hard to Do

A run around the track isn’t hard to do
with its road that never runs out
An endless loop, run until you’re through

Warm and dry with a clear avenue
no cars to avoid, no need to shout
A run around the track isn’t hard to do

A little tedious, a lack of view
but a chance to fly fast, to go all out
on this endless loop, run until you’re through

Your brain can go blank, your thoughts can be few
mechanically moving without doubt
A run around the track isn’t hard to do

It can be monotonous, that’s true
encountering the same people on this repetitive route
of endless loops, run until you’re through

So little to look at, so little to do
but keep track of the laps, not losing count
A run around the track isn’t hard to do
but it’s a boring, endless loop, run until you’re through

Free Verse

More Routine than Ritual

running inside on the track
attracts a different sort of churchgoer
than running outside by the gorge—
the congregation at the track comes
for the warm dry conditions and
stays for the comforting repetitions
looping lapping
leaving out the world
cocooned cared for
no wind no rain but also no fun
more routine than ritual
only a run