Every day I see my neighbor
Running down the street
An older man who never stops
It's really quite the feat

But today I thought
Maybe he's not just running to be healthy
I think he might be running away from something.

Maybe in his age he's seen a war or two
Awful and scary
Traumatizing to the highest degree
So he runs from the memories
Of bloodsoaked swamps and boots
Or his friends without their heads.

Or possibly he seeks a goal
To rise to the peak
To impress his colleagues
Who rest in stagnant heaps
And be the best him he can see.