Thanks-ah the excitement !! - the names for me are lost cheers P
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Richards
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 8:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 'Our Runners in Black, 1960'
Our Runners in Black, 1960
I’d see him running past most days each week.
Both our families lived in Hargest Terrace,
postwar State Houses, somewhat look-alike,
tile roofs, some weatherboard, some yellow brick.
small front lawns, standard letterboxes.
(Hargest was a World War II V.C.)
Murray ran lopsided, never looked strong.
It was the withered arm you noticed,
then his sandy coloring, that look
of ginger eyelashes. He’d attended
the other school. We felt smarter
and proud of our young runners.
He took my sister out once; nothing
came of it. His training schedule
with a strict new coach took all week.
He made it in our Olympic team
that year. So did ‘my’ Peter Snell,
so stylish and strong, our school champ.
Lydiard coached him too. Off they went, we
followed the team in black by radio
and daily paper. Few lodged bets.
Rome was so far away, so foreign.
When Peter won his gold we shouted.
Next thing Murray with his arm - the five
thousand metres! we were delirious.
World-class courage, worn on his sleeve.
We boasted of their - and our - modesty.
We were a nation of runners, harking
back to Lovelock, quiet fifteen-hundred
surprise at Berlin ’36, who died so young.
Peter and Murray, knighted, are still alive.
Seattle, June 2016
[Murray Halberg, born 1933;
Peter Snell, born 1938]
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