This is not a race but
everyone is running,
everyone is screaming,
This is not a race but
the pistol fired and off we went,
bodies spilling in all directions
limbs untangling from backpacks,
shoes lost in flight.
This is not a race but
some people lose,
sprawled out and gasping on concrete,
praying for medics,
praying for anyone.
this is not a race but
a crowd waits behind police barricades,
eyes alerted,
desperate for the last runners to come in.
This is Not a Race
