race of words

the thrill of victory,

the agony of defeat

to the victor, the writing marathon

or the arena's battle with the foes

goes the classic spoil,

publishing of the author's works

with all the world to share

hurdles formidable to jump

who will cross the finish line,

akin the writing athlete's 583,000 novel words?

leo tolstoy's war and peace,

j. r. tolkien, et als, writer runner athletes of the mind

for the written works of art to the cheering crowds

the poem, the prose, the story, genres no limit

whatever literary piece

the athlete's endurance is required

measured marked, degree of strength to endure

stamina's training endure and not faint

long nights of introspection's reflection

days of burning passion

traversing plains, hills and rivers, oceans feelings,

through valleys dark, deserts dry

of writer's block, or cramp

not succumb, nor be weary

athlete scribe of the pen

sleepless nights in running search of elusive epiphany

yet unfazed, unnerved to serve, fulfill

the burning need and crave

to form coherent means convey

through the paths and tracks of the course,

though obstacles in the way, unphased

isolation from fellow humanity,

running writing tireless

search for lost, obscure, fragmented meanings

translated terms, terms concise, precise

that fit just right for a perfect stride

words redundancy avoid, run the course

the narrow way, words that flow

take writer's pace to the finish lines

gasp for air in moments of ecstasy

in pursuit of passion's need to run the write

if the ink runs dry, relief awaits in the course

quench your thirst writer's run

it will yield another route

writer's run remains in the race

runs with the power of the pen

stays in the game running with the words

wrestles, fears not combat with the foes that would thwart

impedance threat athletes attempts to form

thoughts invisible into the visible for the spectators worthy

athlete writer harness, subdue as you run,

your thoughts into words, plot their course

in your strides to fly above the sundry barren frames of existence

pass the torch of their meaning, dreams and expectations

pass the torch of writing's sport

to catch the fire, share the sparks

and blaze with light the reader's mind

the author is the athlete poet in the arena of olympiads

runs the race from dawn to dusk

never weary in the sprint, to the full length's marathon

long distance strides to catch the sun

and pen it down

before it slips into the dawn

sprints to paint the story

write it down

share it with the hungry arena

the writer athlete does mourn:

"unless i run my heart does burst,

i cannot stop this race to write

my lungs fill with emotion's dread

to write my feelings my thoughts to spread

my glistening sweat,

salty sweet on my breast

as birds of prey fly after me

to peck my eyes, rob my words

and scatter them in piles

along the track to alphabet confetti,

steal my mission and my goal

unless i run the write

down to my finish lines,

wreath of glory on my brow,

literary piece to the world give

for human deeds and feelings manifold inscribe"

another write, the author poet victor's run

pursue and fill the plot

fulfill the readers' thrill applause,

satisfy their yearning's crave

for wielding swords of words

in the arena of the match

across the finish line another write

another chapter line by line

another poem stride by stride

quench your thirst by swallowing words

the sprint and the gallop of the quest

to write the highest epiphany

leap across to join the ranks

of the classics, the writing athletes of the mind

to the sounds of readers' cheers, exalted or low

of written works spilled across

the track of need for the race to write