Under the Big Dipper
Nothing but sky
The Immensity of Nature
Overwhelms the Eye.
Silence….
It reigns.
Breathing…
The gains.
Sunlight invades
“Go away!”
“You’re ruining the moments!”
I curse the gray.
Hard work and sweat
Is the stuff dreams are made of
The feeling I get?
Like the shivers of first love.
One word: Tireless
Two words: Amazing grace
Incessantly upbeat
Creating a carefree place.
Known as “Mr. Double Under”
Watch out!
“Here Comes the Thunder!”
Open–
Most of the time
Amenable–
Except on burpee grind
“Change the WOD?” I say.
“Sure, why not?”
“Add 100 burpees,” he says
My stomach inevitably knots.
Afterwards, I can’t breathe
“Well, it was a good idea,” I say.
“Until I consulted you.”
(Note my look of dismay).
Talkative–
Understatement?
Mindful of others–
Committed 100 percent
Passionate–
To say the least
Dedicated–
Energy that never ceased.
Attentive–
The smallest detail
Encouraging–
“You didn’t fail.”
Kind–
Always a smile
No matter the circumstance
Or the trial.
Serious?
Occasionally
Competitve
Invariably.
Funny?
Depends who you ask
It’s hard to laugh
When you need an oxygen mask.
Seriously—
Alex you can depend
Most importantly,
He’s a friend.
Happy Birthday, Alex!!
RESPONSE TO CHANGE
Conflicted as the night
Troubled—to the point of flight
Heavy-hearted—that is true.
More accurately—very blue.
Nothing fun in change.
Rocking the boat—always strange.
“Wait and see.”
Blah! I’d rather plea,
“Say it ain’t so.”
I can’t deal as you know.
Luckily, time never stops
Ending all the flips and flops.
“Could be better than you imagine”
I believe that as much as a dragon.
Nothing to do
I have no clue.
Helpless—
And on I press.
Written when I found out my box was being sold to new owners.
In the depths
Of the dark
When all sleep
I make my mark.
Silence clings
Like a diamond ring
Sparkle and shine
All within.
Determination…
Just you and the bar
Concentration…
“Wow, I’ve come far.”
Rack and crash
Sweat rolls…
Each rep moves you
Closer to your goals.
“You working out?”
Puzzled, I reply, “What’s that?”
“I train,” I say.
A simple fact.
Dedication and persistence
Soreness, tape, and aches
Characteristics and symptoms
Attached to your wake.
The Sun rises
Shimmers crease the sky
You’re still going strong
And beating the guys.
The question is:
Who wants it more?
Believe in yourself
There’s power in the roar!
WOD is done
“God, am I blessed?”
Tomorrow comes
Another test.
For what it’s worth
My sincere advice:
Single-mindedness
That’s the price.
Ode to CrossFit:
In my box
I’m at home.
The one place
I can roll on foam.
And not be different.
Or weird.
Just be me.
Just be feared.
We’re all competitive
Driven in life.
You have to be
To survive White.
Where having muscle
Is the norm.
Snatches, jerks, and cleans
Who wants to conform?
Sore muscles
Bruises galore
Your first pull up
And all you want is more.
You push yourself
Against the clock
One more minute, one more rep…
Evolving solid like a rock.
We’re in this together
You and me
At the end of the WOD
The feeling of free.
Drenched in sweat
The battle cry
Your heart sings
There are no more whys.
Out the door
The euphoria lasts
Carries you through
Who has time for the past?
Tomorrow comes
Another day
You’re pushed and challenged
In so many ways.
But what matters most
Why you keep coming back
You’re stronger in life
And that’s a fact.
So next time you’re asked,
“Why do you CrossFit?”
“It makes me beautiful,” you say
Without missing a beat.
