Heart of a Lion

By Joseph McGowan

Junior high school butterflies were floating inside him on the day of the race.
At the starting line amid, to him what seemed to be giants,
Stood this little boy who seemed so out of place.

As the starter’s pistol raised and fired,
The giants pushed ahead and strode confidently into the lead.
Amidst the frenzy it took all the strength he could muster
To fight his way out of the pack, and from the giants, to finally be freed.

For no one but he knew the size of his heart.
The one that was now beating furiously moments after the start
As he raced, oh he ran, well, he ran like the wind.
Step after step the pain rose.  Still he pushed on, pushed on from within.

Lonely runner with innocence, determination and fatigue etched on his face
Running for his life to prove to all who he was
To answer his dreams of finishing in first place

Fighting the odds, this young boy ran with tremendous pride
Though small and frail he stood, beat the heart of a lion inside
And on that fateful day he ran with the grace and speed of a young gazelle
Young, proud and strong he ran,
Not yet knowing this would be a race that some day to his children he’d tell.

Every ounce of energy he spent as his heart raced the sweat soaked his skin
Yet each step he took only seemed to stoke the fire from within.
He looked back as one by one the giants faded away
Growing now smaller than he as they couldn’t keep up the pace
‘Til the last one faded out of sight
With a look of exhaustion and bewilderment etched on his face.

        Then came a moment, a magical moment, of inner peace

When others’ panting and footsteps were no longer heard
Just the sound of his own footsteps, a beating heart, rhythmic breathing
And an inner voice saying, “You can do it” is all that he heard.

As he crossed the finish line this day, not coming in first, but in second place
A smile that emulated from deep within his soul
Shined through the pain and exhaustion, for he had given his all
And ran his best race.

Beating the odds he now stood amidst giants, that not so long ago, he innocently defied.
Yes, amidst giants, small and frail this young boy stood

But what no one knew, is that he had the heart of a lion inside.

Copyright© 2006