MAY DAYS POEMS -Run Roger Run, May 6

May 6

On this day in 1954 English athlete Roger Bannister became the first athlete to run a sub-4 minute mile, recording 3:59:4 at Iffley Road Track, Oxford. It was considered to be a monumental breakthrough for distance running. Running a mile in under four minutes was at that time considered to be a feat beyond the limits of human endeavour. A holy grail –totally elusive. Turns out, it wasn’t…

Run Roger Run

At Iffley Road

Young Roger strode

He wasn’t running late for dinner

He wasn’t running to meet someone

Roger hadn’t jumped the gun

Round and round the track ran Roger

With a bold athletic stride

Roger was a man possessed

Such a wild ride – (or more precisely a run)

A fast time would be a sensation

Under four minutes

Would make him the pride of the nation

He finished the mile

In record time

Shattering the four minute barrier

With boldness, power and beauty

An enduring moment

Roger had run for his life

-Never been done before

What’s more

0.6 shaved off the record.

I wonder if he ran home to tell his family?

Alan j Wright

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