amy

You
were training. Cross country.
I said i'd come with you.
a crisp july morning full of birdsong

we
jogged the backroads of cherry gardens.
you never shut up.
the Joy of Life
is yours
in abundance.

magpies
stop singing in reverent awe
at your constant carolling
as we pass

Dad,
Mrs Knott said.. can you go any faster ?...what sort of birds are they?

all sentences remain unfinished
you tangential mind is fleeter than your feet!

lorikeets
broadcasting cream stamens stop chuckling
as you pass beneath them

Only
after two or three K's does your panting
interrupt the stream of consciousness

Finally
we sit atop a hill and
look down on the glorious morning

You've finally spent all your thoughts.

We listen to the background.
A calf and its mother.
A willy-wagtail.
Distant sheep.

You narrow your eyes
tilt your head
in concentration.

I look at you
and pray
that you never lose your confidence in yourself
or sense
of Wonder.

rob walker
july, 96

This poem was written in 1996 when Amy first sparked an interest in cross-country running.
Since then, she has developed into a very capable middle-distance runner. We were very proud when she was selected as a support runner for the Torch Relay leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Four years on she hasn't lost that confidence.. Chattering parrots still can't hold a candle to her verbal fluency either!

Amy

Amy, July 2000