chest quickly expanding
breath coming fast
pounding in the ears
of the racing pulse
Run, run, run, run, run
screaming calves with
burning thighs and
jarred creaky joints
fists clenched tightly
faster, faster, faster, faster
not a sound; not a word
keep pushing through
ignore the scraping branches
block out the animal cries
straight ahead, straight ahead
into the dark, into the thick
sweat trickling between breasts
eyes locked on the jumpy horizon
hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
