Warmth pumps through my body

From my heart, to my legs, to my cheeks

As I go up and over

The snow-capped hill

Making puffs of smoke

In the morning chill.

I jog through the park, the sidewalk,

Along the shore of the lake

Looping back and forth

Across the streets and the parking lot,

Passing the same things, every day.

There'll be flowers,

Or lawnmowers

Or fall leaves, or other joggers like me

There'll be cars,

Maybe a road repair

Or a eerie hush as folks try to sleep

Nothing noteworthy, nothing that's changed

It's the same city, and I'm running back

To the same place

But the wind is rushing past

The sun that was in front, is now behind

And all that's left

Is the sound of my breath

The pumping in my chest

The ache in my feet

And the promise of a good, long rest at the end

But not now

Not for one more lap.

This is all I need.