Set, the running boys.
Legs down, eyes up,
eyes front, son.

Lagging, intermission
carry on. Keep going,
we are judging.

Lap 1, well done.
An achievement
to all.

Keep it up,
keep going,
don’t slow.

Don’t listen to them,
there is shame
in second place.

Why are you stopping?
You fool, ingrate.
You’re not done.

We refuse. You can’t
die with a single digit
finish line.