by George A. Hancock

June 

Thursday begins June’s run
Featuring summer’s sweet sun
Many schools are soon out
All along my running route.

My rehab program continues
With light road-running views
Easy low mileage the norm
As the back nerve conforms.

June’s weather is first rate
As Nature opened her gate
Allowing warmth to spread
Across our landscape bed.

Runs now in light road gear
Are the norm as we adhere
To warmer weather outside
During our daily road ride.

June is our halfway mark
In this 2023 ongoing lark
Get outside and enjoy 
This June summer toy. 

 Clean Roads 

My running streets are clean
That road shale does get mean
Yes, it provides snow traction
But it’s a June day distraction.  

Once a year a cleanup sweep
Happens eliminating this creep
Road shale is known to bite
Causing some roadside fright.

Clean roads are a seasonal thing
As we run with the birds singing
Our feet dance along the road
Minus that sharp shale load.

Sometimes cars fling a piece
Of shale creating a crease 
In our lower leg or our head
With a strong force we dread.

Road shale, gone for the season
Not back until an icy reason
Demands more traction here
It’s summer time, let’s cheer! 

Mountain Laurel

June’s growth continues on
As this runner trots at dawn
It’s time for PA’s state flower
To command this June hour.

Mountain Laurel is in bloom
As Mother Nature hits varoom
Viewing this along my road
Creates a delightful run episode.

The colors white, pink, and green
Offer a colorful roadside scene
Trail runners perhaps view more
Then road runners out the door.

A grand sight as we run our day
Eyeing beauty along our way
Mountain Laurel days are here
Most smile and never sneer.

Yes, our suburban to rural runs
Produce views that really stun
Mountain Laurel is a real treat
Delighting the June road athlete.

A Rehab Run 

April 21 surgery stopped my run
In Pittsburgh beneath a warm sun
Late April and May were rehab walks
Unfortunately with weather that balks.

My back suffered nerve compression
That never produced any depression
Years earlier nearly the same thing
Resulted in the first surgery sting.

The surgeries addressed one nerve
Decompression worked we observe
However, there are other nerve spots
That could again slow my run trots.

So, June begins my rehab running
A short easy mile run is stunning 
Running pain free is so very nice
I listened to the medical advice.

Maybe, April 21 was the final cure
For me, running holds an allure
I’m working towards 30 a week
Yes, 30 mpw is what I now seek.

Editor’s note: We’re very happy you are on the road again, George. We wish you many more pain-free miles.

On A Summer Run

The summer solstice is the 21st 
The summer season has burst 
Onto my roads in a sunny way
That makes my running day.

I enjoy this summer run 
Beneath June’s glorious sun
Dressed in light road gear
Running minus weather fear. 

Running under shady trees
Cools my early road sprees 
I eye the deep blue sky
I smile and utter a sigh. 

Summer creates lazy days
Sometimes with humid haze
My morning run remains cool
Running early a useful tool.

So, on this dawn summer run
I view June’s sights that stun
Each season colors my view
With their own seasonal hue.

Categories: Poet's Corner

Tags: 2023, George A Hancock