by Ron Rash

Ours was an easy courage.
Noneof us college prep,
we did time in Crest High's
vocational wing.

learning nothing
that would save us
from trailer parks and mill work,
or even a winding down war.

So we ran against time,
lived for stolen seconds,
finding or measure
brassed in trophy cases.

Tight as the baton,
we gripped our certain knowledge:
that running in circles meant
more than anything coming.