Run

Our optional prompt for the day challenges us to write a poem that recounts a historical event.

For some time, I’ve been fascinated by this photo. The raw emotions on display from the characters involved made me look into it and learn more.

In 1967 Kathrine Switzer became the first registered woman to run the whole of the Boston Marathon. It became a momentous moment in history – you can read her own words about the day here – it’s a really good read.

Katherine made and changed history that day. Despite the consolidated and coordinated attempts by the male dominated sports authorities of the day to close her ambitions down, Katherine went on to establish her own running club for women and subsequently inspired hundreds of thousands of women world-wide to take up running.  It is her lasting legacy that women went from being considered incapable of distance running, to having their own marathon in the Olympics.

….

From what bottomless pit of hell did you summon that rage?
What vile plate of privilege fed such a twisted face,
That encouraged such vicious enmity,
To attack hope, like a murderous enemy?

What diseased sense of justice rolled behind your eyes?
What odious ideology made you her despise,
That flooded your veins with aggression,
To fuel your power, to smother ambition?

Why did this tide of loathing flow from your stone-cold soul?
What fetid and cruel love of control,
Tried to stop her proving what could be done?
Your intervention failed; her race, she’s won.

….