Poetry: Run by Chris Cooper

Run

The scariest thing about life is that there is no finish line, so you never really know where or how far you have to go. Living out each day, assessing the past and present while eyeing the future, we choose directions based on impulse and prudence, decisions that guide the run.

And it starts out like a sprint with fast-twitch ambition and energized strides, until the eventual fatigue causes a recalculation in approach, an adjustment to the race, a realization that it’s actually a marathon, requiring both stamina and endurance, a steadier pace. And subconsciously, we’re convinced tomorrow is expected, assuming there’s always another day, more time to catch up. But you never really know if there’s a lifetime ahead, another mile to go, or if you're experiencing your last conscious breaths, and maybe that's the beauty of it all.

Chris Cooper is an English literature graduate of James Madison University. His 2020 short story Finn Almost Buys a Goldfish won the 'Emerging Writer’s Award' at Spank the Carp Magazine, and his short story, The Swim was recognized as the Best in Fiction for 2019 at Across the Margin. His work has also been featured in Hash Journal Mag, Expat Press, Misery Tourism, and elsewhere.