Stationary Running

I’m running on a treadmill,
Miles eaten up by a growling belt,
Slipping off my shoes into oblivion.
I never left to reach anywhere.
A sweat-soaked T-shirt,
An LED displaying energies burnt,


I could have run laps on concrete ovals,
Reach the same place every time
…. Faster or slower than others.

I could run a marathon across this city,
Reach another place at a time
…. Faster or slower than others.


But I run the equator every day,
Reach a time on a different day,
And run the treadmill all over again
…. Faster or slower than others.