Meet the Runners

I’ve been running all my life. Not running in the literal sense, Running from “Look like this” and “Dress like that” and “You belong here, not there.” You see, I come from a long line of Runners. It’s in my blood. Direct descendant of two gold medalists Specializing in escaping conformity, The same way my grandparents did When running from the sweltering Tobacco fields of Southern Fried Hardship To chase after the ever glistening Big Apple. My father, the son of Skyscrapers and Project Homes, Had his bite of the Apple his parents Sought after and hungered more of The American Pie. I am the daughter of Free Speech and Independent Thinking. My brother is the son of Unpopular Opinion and Controversy. Going against the grain is Family tradition, Debate is our pastime. We thrive on being different, And never stop running from Stereotype. In our sport, There are no breaks, You just keep running. Why, you ask? I have to keep running for My sons and daughters So that they can be runners, too. For if we stop, We will become What we were running from.