Yes, for me, too, Max. I agree with Bill about the coach’s sudden appearance, though it may represent the remembering well. That ending feels a bit prosaic, though…
I do like the sense of memory at work, for whatever reason…
Doug
> On Jun 16, 2016, at 12:33 AM, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> 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]
Douglas Barbour
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