The wind blows and burns

nostrils, throat, eyes

The goal ahead, visible

but tomorrow

it will be further away.

He works hard

to get it right.

The pace, breath,

step,

running, running  up the hill

getting the pace

to meet the breath.

Getting the heart

to beat with the step.

Over the hill and

through the valley

the heart beats

mesh with

the heart of the

antelope grazing

in the distance.

Mud, slush and snow

drag the pace down.

There is no end.

Tomorrow it begins again.

Pace, breath, heart,

step

Hawks circling over head.