this marathon of hurdle hopping
continues neverendingly
it seems and there's no time for stopping
jumping because of aching knees

or burning lungs or arrival of
Spring I noticed several laps
ago caught a ladybug
in flight it crawled out through the gaps

between my fingers held it up
before my sweat-stung eyes until
the flake-like wings unfurled abrupt-
ly trapped it didn't mean to ****

the thing you see but just then cleared
a hurdle came down with a jolt
I thought the bug had disappeared
but found it in my palm all smeared