Running the trail that encircles the park
shirtless, breaking a sweat

feelin' good

     I could go to the gym

     push and pull on machines

          but why bother?

Running: running is different
there's a sense of purpose

I can go from point A to point B

     I can run to the next village
     to tell them we've spotted the herd

          in those days,

the mind could track the prey
the body could kill it
and the soul could thank the earth

     there were still the great questions
     the great dilemmas
     and the great sorrows

          but there was a path

lucent and worthy

Today the path is around the park
there are children on the swingset
and that's good enough for now