apotheosis
a committed man whose name i can’t recall
kicked off the the 3rd annual bay to beacon ½ marathon
the sun had risen and 50 deliberate flesh-blood-breath bodies
stood on dnr grade gravel
in the middle of the mile long road into negwagon state park
the committed man at the daybreak of his middle age
talked about safety, about sponsors
his heart conveyed the land, the roads
commitment to a michigan thumb he nurtures in his visions and body movement
he thanked volunteers
then played jimi hendrix’s rendition of the star spangled banner
from the portable usb speaker and mc karaoke microphone
a small sentimental roadside gift shop wooden crossbow shot a firecracker into the forest
startled
we all fumbled for our garmins
to set into motion our neurotic metrics
and jim and i were off
jim who slowed down to talk with me
be with me
share with me
presence and time
both of us on the ½ century foot
one piriformis
another plantar fasciitis
we shared stumbling with a rural michigan prosecuting attorney who told us about gout
and the running salvation that prevented a divorce
his entry way into conversation was big gretch, the committed governor of our state.
we talked about her run. wondering
the orange sun was positive
jim and i found respite at the st gabriel church whose cross stood humbly in front of lake huron
at the end of the heat shimmer ashe pavement
we were given water, laughs, and jokes from 90 year olds
nourished
with real bathrooms
a positive parishioner showed me a century sanctuary with pictures of faded priests
and crucifixes with blood and pain
we finished on the long shiny roads
perspective points of reason to the deliberate horizon
the long road made the miles cycle faster
diana and yvette came for us at the finish line
with the friendship of apotheosis
and a man who slowed down for me
Leave a Reply