At Level Flight

On poetry, mountains, and running — A photographic poem

the truth is not poetic the truth is not pretty the truth is, I had to labor for each breath for each one of the steps ungracefully pushing my body upward to think about each of the rocks in which I was stepping to attain traction to avoid slipping on the trail and not to lose momentum

the truth; it challenged my body and soul made me question my sanity the absent reasons why I went up the trail why I kept coming back each week why I kept on pursuing the distance unattainable, but more attainable than speed

the mountain was not romantic, we were not in love it was more like a pugilistic match we fought each other me, with my feet and her with the incline gravity on her side.

but she made promises: my head would be clear my spirit empty, I would become one with her again. Like that summer, no, that winter, in which it did not snow, and the weather was perfect and on my side.

But today, it was only summer and heat and a cotton-dry mouth

Today was a small water bottle to save weight

Today was about managing my water intake, and hopefully, make it to the emergency well ten miles away

The one from which I don’t drink because it proves I’m not as good of an athlete as I would like to be

Like the super-stars who run twenty miles with no water at the end of a hundred miller race

Comparisons!

but then amid the madness I remember the why.

(No, not that one. Not the obscure race I won’t win)

my why is to beg to belong at least once more at least with you

Between gasping and panting

and now, we are together and the birds show up they are flying

I’m running

At level Flight

Pablo Pereyra 2021. Thank you for reading.

Jenine Bsharah Baines invited me to participate in the writing prompt Animalia for Genious in the Bottle back in May 2021. Believe me, when I tell you, I thought about it in most of my runs and bike rides. I took several pictures to illustrate the not yet born poem.

An encounter with a baby coyote running to safety to her mom during a five AM run

Bunnies proved to be the hardest for the camera to catch

Snakes

Deers who are so used to us no longer fear us

I saw groups of vulture birds (maybe hawks?) soaring among the canyons. Sometimes in circles, other times, gliding fast and low over my head.

Then, the two owls over the school crossing sign on another of my early morning run sessions.

But I could not conjure the spirit of the poem I wanted to write.

I wanted to write something grand and quiet that would honor the spirit of the mountain. But the truth is, I was running tired almost every single time. I had signed up to race Imogen Run Pass in Telluride, Colorado, and I felt the pressure to keep up the mileage and the elevation gain going, week after week even when I did not want to run. I was dreaming with sea-level running and fearing the distance even before I left my house to run in the morning.

I made multiple attempts to start the yet unborn poem.

There was this, I think beautiful, starting line:

The trail demands attention and intention…

But nothing would come after that.

And finally, it hit me. The truth was I was running hard miles in which I was reaching the limits of my body. Not to mention returning home to help with the kids and the house. Doing switch shifts at work. Being an Über dad (you know, you drive your kids around while they play on their phones — I love you kids!).

So, if anything, I hope the poem captures the beauty and struggle of trail running.

The athlete’s gaze towards a distance beyond the place in which they are at that particular time. Digging dip. Unclear motives. One with the mountain and the sky.

I rekindled my intention to write this piece after attending Trisha Traughber’s workshop on exploring our outer spaces (August 2021). I thank her for creating community in these times in which isolation is now a household word.

To read the poem that started it all, The Birds and the Bees by Jenine Bsharah Baines, click below:

And for the Genius in a Bottle prompt by Victor Sarkin:

You can watch me read the poem here! Sorry, no race photos!

Thank you for accompanying me in this journey!