THE LONDON MARATHON POEM

THE START

NERVES GRIP MY STOMACH

BUT IMMODINE PLUS HAS MADE ME CAST IRON.

FEMALE URINALS, HALIROUS,

BARE BOTTOMS BARED

SQUATTING SHAMLESSLY, LIKE SPORTY CRABS

A CONE SHAPED DEVICE

CREATES A TEMPORARY PENIS,

ORANGE TUTU COVERS MY BLUSHES.

 

MY NAME IS PRINTED ON MY CHEST

I AM A CRAZY LOOKING BROWN FAIRY

RUNNING ALONG LONDON STREETS

I FEEL FAMOUS

I SMILE, SMILE, PAY NO HEED TO THE MILES,

MY FEET FLY.

 

DISASTER

A WOMEN EAGER TO SAY HELLO TO CHEERING FRIENDS

CUTS ACROSS MY PATH

AND KNOCKS ME DOWN

I LAND ON MY HANDS AND KNEES

SHOCKED

I AM HEPLED UP BY A COUPLE

WHO SMOOTH DOWN MY RUFFLED TUTU

AND SEND ME BACK ON MY WAY

NO HARM DONE.

 

BIG BURLY MEN SCREAM MY NAME

WOMEN OOH AND AHH AT MY OUTFIT,

I HIGH FIVE THE HANDS OF MULTIPLE CHILDREN

I AM FREELY OFFERED JELLY BABIES, JAFFA CAKES,

SLICES OF ORANGE,

I MUNCH MY WAY AROUND.

 

I DO NOT RECOGNISE LONDON

THE WARMTH THE LAUGHTER- ALIEN

THE ENCOURAGEMENT-ALIEN

THE SUN SHINING-ALIEN

I DO NOT RECOGNISE

THIS CRAZY LONDON

I LOVE LONDON

TODAY AND ONLY TODAY,

NOISE AND CROWDS ARE A WONDERFUL THING,

THIS IS A WHITE VERSION OF CARNIVAL,

NO FLOAT’S ONLY RUNNER’S,

NO ANGRY POLICE ONLY HAPPY MARSHALLS.

 

I SPOT A BROTHER, DARK SKIN GLISTENING

MUSCLES TAUNT WORKING HARD

FACE CONCENTRATED

LOCKS FLYING

HE IS AT LEAST AN HOUR IN FRONT OF ME.

 

MILE 19 FRIENDS FOUND,

HUG’S ENCOURAGEMENT,

I AM GREATFUL,

COMFORT, A BIT OF LOVE

RUN

KNEES THROBBING

STICH NIGGLING,

GROIN ACHING

I AM STILL RUNNING,

THIGHS CLENCHING,

ACHILLES PINCHING

TOES PROTESTING,

BLISTERS APPEARING,

I AM STILL RUNNING

I AM STILL RUNNING

I AM STILL RUNNING

26.2 MILES IS A LOOOONG WAY.

 

I AM PASSED BY 4 RHINOS. BAT MAN,

PAMELA ANDERSON,

A BRIDE AND GROON,

I AM PASSED BY SPIDER MAN,

ROCKY AND 2 BANANAS,

I AM STILL RUNNING,

 

365 YARDS TO GO,

5 HOURS 23 MINUTES LATER,

I FINISH,

HAPPY, MEDAL,

SMILE, RELIEF,

JOY.

RELAX, RECOUP.