Dew infested Highschool morning

Chilled my bones

1967 Fairfax

Daily early gym class

Culture shock from

Cnce a week in Long Island

Uprooted to the West Coast

Running a mile

Didn’t require

My non-existent coordination

No outbursts screamed at me

My chest began to heave

After the first ¼ mile.

Didn’t have the stamina.

Years of sedentary exercise

Left me breathless.

I am avoiding sports

For fear of persecution.

Listening to the top thirty

On KHJ

Took no physical prowess.

The second lap

Around the track

Heart pounded into a painful knock

Muscles that I hadn’t used

Sent flares to my brain.

Time froze.