Poetry: The Runner

Amidst the fog I toil while the world beyond still sleeps
Except to the eyes of the occasional streetlight
I feel invariably invisible--
I am no longer human.
Running
A creature chasing for the sake of necessity
Seeking to satiate the hunger every being's belly was born with
But few will ever will themselves to satisfy--
I am human again.
Running
My heels moan with every blow of the unforgiving pavement
Angrily echoing against the narrowing walls of sneering pines
Begging the Man in me to succumb
My will flickers thin.
Void of breath to feed the fire
My will flickers thin.
The teeth of winter gnashing through
My will flickers thin.
Then for an instant-- a flint of consciousness rekindles
My will flickers thin but still my will it flickers!
Running
With grinding ribs and gritted teeth I dig beneath my anguish
Suddenly my instincts roar and war against my weakness
Like famished wolves to flesh I hasten
And vanish into night.