A Poem: The Coward

“It’s a marathon, baby” you often said
then sprinted off, shut down, and disappeared
at the first sign of exertion, when four miles had
gone so beautifully, but you stumbled at the first hill.
When I went looking for you
you were nowhere to be found
nor would you utter a word;
hiding behind a friend, you had
run off the course entirely. What a lonely stretch that was,
as I, pushed beyond all limits, without strength or hope,
staggered on without you.