Beauty Manifested

An early morning walk with my old dog

Under just a thin sliver of the moon.

Then a quick drive to meet up with a friend

To run eight miles and back to the Jones Falls.

As I drove on the quiet Fayette Street

Toward where we planned to start our morning run,

I saw red-or’nge almost mushy sun

Rising just above the eastern horizon.

Thin clouds that stretched a line from north to south

Looked as though they had pierced the morning sun.

A landscape beautiful to remember.

The trip was in pursuit of running to

Running water that would be by our side.

We share a love of water rushing as

We run together in good company.

Approaching the falls, I spoke of the sun

Reflecting on its beauty like the falls.

And as we ran the “back” of out-and-back,

The water was no longer by our side

But drizz’ling down from a now mid-gray sky

Enough to cool but not enough to drench.

Beauty manifested for us again.

Finding beauty in very many things

And very many people whom I meet

Brings serenity to a crazy life,

And happiness, making my life complete.

So if I were to offer just a thought

To anyone who’d care to listen now

I would say, “Take a moment to observe

And find the beauty and joy in the world

Around you.” Then take a very deep breath

And pause a moment. You’ll find—life is good.

Drizzle and Friendship

The rain was coming down lightly

Most of the time.

At other times

The air just felt misty.

Throughout the run,

Step by step,

As we just kept going,

We could see the drops in the air.

Sometimes coming straight down.

Sometimes falling diagonally.

Lit from behind by streetlights

Still on before sunrise.

No big puddle splashes.

No downpours.

Just slow, steady rain for a long time,

So that the clothes in which we ran

Were soaked, drenched,

Completely filled with water

By the time we were done.

And so it is with people,

When relationships develop slowly and steadily

With a little growth at a time.

Life events happen—

Sometimes straightforward, and

Other times coming at weird angles.

Till the events of minutes, days, months, and years,

When friends just keep showing up

For each other

Fill lives with

Shared experiences,

Shared memories, and

Shared love.

But instead of feeling weighted down

Like drenched clothes,

Friendship lifts hearts and minds and souls.

A Quadruple Haiku after a Run That Ended with Light Rain

Friend’s last taper week.

Simple out and back.  Dry out.

The rain beat us back.

But rainy running

Is nothing new for us two.

We just keep going…

Forward with strong hope…

Always doing what it takes

To become better…

People and runners…

Making the world better for
Ourselves and others.

Marathon Training on Mid Summer Morning

5 Stanzas of Haiku

Meet at five fifteen. 

See lightning. Hear thunder. Run. 

Then the big rain starts. 

Keep going forward. 

Seven mile workout gets done. 

Despite the weather. 

Reminded me of

Running through streams in high school

Cross country races. 

Lauren felt stronger

Than she had in a long while

On a tempo run.  

Mission accomplished. 

With Freedoms Run marathon 

And Comrades ahead.