the chase

“It’s not a race!”

I shout.

The rest are already

half their size.

”guys, wait!”

I try

to catch up.

My chest is begging.

As the last

one turns the last

corner,

I am alone.

’maybe we should turn back’

one inner voice,

’I can see us finishing!’

another.

With a belly breath in

I open my neck.

I watch the steam

engine transcend the open sky.

And so, the inner chase begins.