A Seasons Journey
Long stretches of silent plodding
In searing heat of early Autumn.
Indian Summer sweats its’ prey
Shimmering waves of heat
Obscure the common bond.
All face a long journey
Intervals nurture seeds of greatness
The strong take root and firmly planted
Endure the hardships
Never a question why.
Competition perceived as end
Defines a course of twists and bends.
The real goal lies unseen
It's for the best, too young to grasp.
Testing limits of endurance
Season’s lengthy burden mounts.
Cold raw winds of numbing silence
Biting ears of weary runners.
Lungs burn in hopes to catch
The breath that leads to the next step.
Not treating pain as sign of limits
But companion on journey where.
They are rough stones
No two the same
Collected by chance
In the same eddy.
Each works upon the rest
Grinding, floating, rolling
Nudged along by the stream
Whose rushing water adds no substance.
Yet influences each
In ways controlled by their own shape
Creating polished gems
Of unique character.
Dwight Estey
Written in 1992. The last section is a good explanation of my view of a coach's role.