Boston Marred 2013

I spent my reserve

Built up over months of practice:

Investment, persistence, tears.

Sacrificed my home life,

The normal laundry,

The buttered conversation and toast,

And walks with our wiry dog.

For slogs through twilight puddles and night rains,

And sweats and hills and past halogen headlights.

At the marathon finish line — at the 4-hour mark —

Saw more water and friends.

Not before others blew up.