4/15/13
11:20
am
Brooklyn
NY
An Athletic
Tragedy
And
off he went.
He
took off as if a caliber had detonated
To
commence a race.
Bang.
He
tucked the pigskin against his side,
And
he ran the field like a spooked deer.
His
sight was set from a vision not too far,
While
the rest of his senses were impeded.
It
was clear to him
That
he need not hear or feel anything.
For
he understood that all that mattered
Was
getting there.
He
was a robust machine of a man,
His
huge physique launched instantly
Lifting
himself off the ground.
His
feet latched onto the mud,
Propelling
him effortlessly.
One
could hear his step from miles.
He
was swift.
He
shifted side to side,
While
he pushed off defenders from all sides.
He
jumped through some of them,
As
if they were hurdles,
Leaving
a track of dirt,
Like
an earthmover went through it.
He
was undisputedly the best competitor
Anyone
had ever seen.
A
highly regarded player
From
a prestigious institute.
He
won dozens of awards and accolades
From
various competitions during his youth.
Then
as if the sun went dark at noon,
A
guileful rival attacked from behind.
It
was purely performed ordinarily,
And
yet his speed decelerated immediately.
No
exceptional or foul play was expended,
Yet
it was adequate enough
To
halt his imposing power.
Then
as if it was done in slow motion,
Down
he went, eating dust.
He
succumbed to the field.
He
slithered through grit and grass
While
he quickly diminished in earth haze.
The
crowd was motionless, just as he was.
His
formidable strength enfeebled.
And
as he stared at the sky,
His
passion moved stealthily out of his body.
He
started feeling every inch of pain
Like
he never had before.
A
broken leg and fragmented rib,
Slowly
depleted his soul,
Consuming
his humanity.
Men
rushed towards him,
Even
opponents came to aid the fallen competitor.
They
carried him out of the field.
As
the crowd roared in optimism.
Weeks
went on and his health improved.
He
was then able to walk,
Yet
his supreme ability was no longer there.
And
as months continued, it became clear
That
he would not make a return.
Years
had passed & he succumbed
Deeper
into sadness,
He
surrendered his all to addiction & abuse.
Attempting
wrongfully to ease the pain.
Eventually,
he lost all of his possessions.
And
ultimately, he lost
The
most prized possession of them all,
His
family.
One
by one, they left him.
And
on one fateful night,
Perversity
and irresponsibility ruled over.
He
took his own life,
Tragically
without anyone in sight.
“People
come, people go,” one journalist said.
“All
good things come to an end,” added another.
Everyone
should hear this,
For
it rings true to each one of us.
All
experiences will eventually be over,
Whether
they’re good or bad.
His
athletic prowess may now be
A
distant memory,
But
let it serve as a reminder that,
While
he lived through it,
All
of us should do the same.
But
we MUST continue the fight,
To
wherever it may lead.
Combatting
adversity and trials
That
have been brought forth our way.
For
it isn’t important where one comes from.
All
that counts is where one is headed.
