Inception On Through

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history”.

So said a Classical philosopher from Greece. Well, Plato may be dead, but fortunately we have our own beardy scholar…

When he’s not considering the intellectual consequences of denying the reality of the material world, running, or having a few beers in Seoul Pub, he’s writing poetry. Over to you Dave…

Inception On Through

Its conception at inception de rigueur it was indeed

some stalwart man who ascertained a Seoulwide runners’ need

for silly folks to jog along nary color, race nor creed

truth of which is evident – they even let in me.

There was Young who dug potatoes

and the Sun who urged us faster

and old Pierre the stalwart one who’d start… and finish after

and Jae the said above who put it all together

and mass critical Mark would make his mark running

slow and slow and slow, for him, to yak so much the better.

Others came and came they did, the club was such a hit!

so many runners running running

so many flies to so much__________

ahh, no never mind that awful rhyme… just a figment of your filthy mind

and there it is, you see it’s true

regardless of your potty mouth… they even let in you.

Truly it was phenomenal

This fellowship of fools

Pounding pavement chewing pastry

And not EVERYbody’s teaching school!

Eventually an Adam came

Our clown, hey, what say you?

Sorry, never heard a word

I was drooling at Min Ju.

And lest I be admonished

Though you might just be astonished

But earlier when there was me

Another one was there – Marie!

And Shira with her pen in hand

Or is it that my other beer?

Alison and Leah, who we all wish well, and wishes sent

Wish even more that they were here.

The roster just goes on and on

Too old, too dim, poor me, to summon all I can’t recall

But we all have memories

Of freezing nights and mates in tights

And I know I’ve seen you all

With parch-id mouths and eyes turned south

At the butts you’ll soon recall

Yes many here not mentioned

Were you missed you? no ill-intention

Chrises, Jeffs and Saras and at least a James or two

Flashes of Ashes, and what Adeel, all the runners coming through

April and a drawling Blair

The avant-garde Hyo Jin

See you at a race or social

Hey, how the hell you been?

Jackys and Eddies and miles with Kyles

Now that’s a stupid count!

Miles, not Kyles

Damn! I’m leaving someone out.

Annas, Biatas, Sylvies and Claires

Jennys and pretty pink L Maries

Vanessas and Michaels

And of course there’s Sam who damned some grams

By running fasterly

I can’t recall those many all who challenged self and bested walls.

So pity please poor me

We even have a Chuck

Who sometimes needs reminding

Yes, indeed, we all do give a _______________

Ahh! Gee! Hwa! There you go again!

What is it with you people

Must you default always to profane?

And who could forget

But was it them or him?

The misters Lee and Park and Kim.

And I may be old, but I’m not blind

My mama raised no foo

I just love to run behind the lovely Sarah Gu.

Sadly, we have only

Just the one Uriah

A running blur

Hey, where’s he gone?

I’m not too sure,

But I don’t think it was Ohiya.

Sorry, it’s too long, I know, but let me finish ere I go

Don’t be harsh or shamed or shrill

but I can’t resist just a little bit of my own doggerel

One day I may just find a way to make it fast as, say, oh…Chul?

The cheetah who hails from cold damp lands

And makes it always to the finishing stand

Lovely and humble and held in awe

Who inspires mere mortals to say, “I can!”

Now Thursdays come

And where’d we have been

Without the honorary sweet Marlene

But she rides bikes

I don’t have a rhyme for that.

So there it is on through inception

Days to years a growed conception

This club has history!

So thwarting misconception

Though you go you’re part of we

Cos bear in mind

Our mortal days, alas, they number few

And happenstance, don’t turn askance cos there may be a damn good chance

That he or she was at least once

Sidelined months with you.

Now, me, I’m just the rhymer

Never hurt a soul, it’s true!

But just don’t get me Buckley started

Or there’s none to blame but you.

So, there’s your entry, Matthew

Not so great, but hey, it’s done

So leave me to myself in peace

You pestering twatly one!

Tonetti, Spring 2013