The Running

 

1

Awakening
I think,
who I am, where I am.

First, I sniff:
earth, moss, bark,
a stream nearby.

Is anyone close?

I listen:

ants, ptarmigan, squirrels.

I stretch my legs,

up my spine and neck;

a slow luscious unfurling

There’s a sharpness to the air,

cold, fresh, ice on the leaves,

low mist.

2

Tonight, again,

The ‘Running’.

To make the colours dance…… Green, Red, Blue.

My tail will brush the snow,

will excite a spark, inflame the sky, set the world aglow…

shimmering, scintillation, radiance.

But I must run and run;

keeping the colours dancing needs constant stimulation,

it takes all my energy. 

When I have run all I can,

I fall into the snow’s embrace,

bury myself till morning.

Then, awakening, I ache so, but

I think, who I am, where I am, of my task, my responsibility:

to create the lights……and to never be seen. 

3

I am chosen. 

When I was young, 

I rebelled against being ‘special’,

but, I am chosen, and

I’m in servitude to my calling.

It is a privilege.

It’s a burden.

It is a wonder.

It’s a terror.

It is joyous.

It’s sorrowful.

It is exciting.

It’s known, preordained.

I run freely,

…but have to run.

It is ecstatic.

It’s relentless.

4 

I am rare, pure, exquisite,

I paint on the largest canvas in the world.

Sometimes, with my speed, the cold, the colours,

I can get overexcited.

I have to momentarily slow down,

concentrate hard, find myself.

My touch lights the heavens,

and all the shimmering, vibrant, melting curtains of colour

are mine to

conjure,

hold,

command,

fade;

yet I am pursued, haunted by dreams…..

I’m breathless…..falling.

5

I have the finest gift,

that of always being astonished before

forms and shapes and sounds and smells.

It is extraordinary; I am singular,

though my exhaustion is commonplace.

And I am tired now. 

My work is nearly over.

My fire is diminishing;

the next magical one will come soon.

6

But, Today, again, comes 

The ‘Running’, MY Running:

To make the colours dance…… Green, Red, Blue.

My tail will brush the snow,

My eyes will shine.

I’ll be unfettered, unrestrained, wild, free, powerful.

I’ll create sparks

that will inflame the sky

and set the world aglow…

Peter Jennings

East Sussex

2026