jock librarian

Last week, a special friend turned me on to Tracy K. Smith's poetry. Duende, Smith's latest collection is fiery, substantive, passionate and personal. " Her topics are marriage, war and survival. "Letter to a Photojournalist Going-in" begins:

You go to the pain. City after city. Borders
Where they peer into your eyes as if to erase you.

You go by bus or truck, days at a time, just taking it
When they throw you into a room or kick at your gut,

Taking it when a strong fist hammers person after person
A little deeper into the ground. Your camera blinks...

The narrator later confides, "Your voice fits my ear like a secret. I want to keep it there." And in the final stanza, her stance is adamant and more urgent:

I want my heart to beat like yours: from the outside in,
A locket stuffed with faces that refuse to be named. For time

To land at my feet like a grenade.

This morning, the coach's workout was equally distinct; we ended in flight.
6 x (50, 75, 100)
Repeat the following twice:
On the first round, focus on 50 fast, 75 and 100 pace.
On the second round, focus on 50 pace, followed by 75 fast and 100 pace.
On the third round, focus on 50 and 75 pace, followed by 100 fast.

4 x 75 (BK/BR/FR)
4 x 25 FL