Release Slice of Life Tuesday

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for hosting Slice of Life.  Please visit their site for other slices.

I am in no way an athlete or poet.  My attempts at running are actually jog a little, walk a lot.  I'm discovering the importance of giving myself the time to exercise, eat good foods, and generally take a break from work and other stresses.  I don't often try to write poetry, but this came to me yesterday as I took an early morning walk/jog.

Release

Don't you go thinkin' and thinkin' and thinkin.'
Steve Forbert's song resonates in my mind
As I lace up my shoes.

My mind races
To places I don't want to go.
Thoughts crash against each other
Scrambling,  screeching,  scraping.

I start out slowly
Yearning for release from the clamor
Ricocheting in my head.

Unexpected surprises welcome me
Reds, oranges, and yellows
Leap out
As my feet hit the pavement.

Shriveled jack-o-lanterns
Dot front porches;
Ghostly ghouls
Swing from trees.

Thinkin' and thinkin' and thinkin.'

Breathe in, breathe out
The rhythm soothes me
One foot in front of the other.
Breathe out, breathe in
Again and again and again.

Soon, the cadence of my breathing and
The pounding of my shoes
Drown out the cacophony in my head.

Peace gently nestles in,
Calming the storm in my soul.