The Race
written by: Alan David Gould
We’re on the gun, and there’s the count
Frenetic blur of pounding feet
The way we run is paramount
The race is arduous with heat
We merely juxtapose our might
We see the color of the clue
Yet there is no real end in sight
No matter what we do
But run as if you knew that end
And pass batons to link the race
We may not recognize the face
though he might be our friend
And we may think we know the way
That we can exercise our will
Yet truth lies in between what shows
just buried under fill
We’ll sift down to posterity
as someone who life’s struggles aced
The hero we set out to be
now just a figment of the race
The victory I thought was mine
will never cross the finish line
Alan David Gould is a lifelong musician, composer, writer, photographer, chef, painter—and poet! Gould is a graduate of Bates College and attended Oxford University and the University of Miami. He has traveled extensively in the US and Europe and also lived for 2 years in the Marshall Islands. He's the author of "The Brilliance of Miles," a singular anthology of poetry spanning 40 years. Gould has written 3 other books, "An Instructional Guide for Musicians," "A La Al" and "Stories of My First 50 Years," all available on Amazon and his website. He is also in the active process of publishing original orchestra and chamber work for film and performance, and tackling the remix and mastering of an extensive singer/songwriter catalog. Gould currently resides in Sarasota, Florida with his wife Sally and their wonder dog Piper.
Latest posts by Alan David Gould (see all)
- The Race - January 25, 2026
- The White House - October 26, 2025
- Meditation with Piper - October 18, 2025
