Theme for English 3

A tribute to one of my favorite years of English class

(and a variation on Langston Hughes' Theme for English B)

Theme for English 3

I stand at the starting line, knees bent and ready to take off.

A sudden BANG and the onlookers jump,

But we’re already off, racing past a blur of people on the sidelines.

And so the race begins.

I cross the 1630 meter mark first,

Past Carver, Winthrop, and Bradford.

Their faces blend and I leave them behind quickly.

Hawthorne pops up to my right,

His scarlet sweatshirt a beacon among the crowd.

As I pass 1830 meters, I make out Emerson and Thoreau near some trees.

I wave and move on.

At 1890 meters I see Chopin cheering on the side, Allez, allez!

The crowd glares at her for being rude,

But the runners appreciate her words.

As I leave 1920 meters behind me, Fitzgerald finally appears.

He frowns at the crowd, nose wrinkling at their excessive screams.

My pace picks up as I prepare to sprint through the end.

The 1970 meter mark flies past.

I catch Toni Morrison smiling her encouragement at me

Athough I’m sure I look terrible by now,

Face red and sweating from every pore.

Before I know it, my feet cross the 2019 meter mark.

My legs are numb, lungs are burning,

But it’s been an amazing race.