The Marathon

The distance seems so far away.
Dreams lie waiting there, watching
while she runs towards them― slowly.

Her stride holds strong though many,
many miles lie ahead on the path
leading to the end. She hopes

to find new dreams forming
from the seeds of those accomplished.

This is what she lives
for— to accomplish.

She pushes, fueled by the possible
outcomes or her boundless ambitions.

Happiness begins there.

But happiness ends there. Where
there is nothing to be reached
but fruits on tall trees or ancient,
dusty books waiting atop a broken,

rotting, wooden shelf filled
with pictures of the life she led;
the moments that passed by

while she continued running.