Fast Fandango Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Exercise, both the love and
scourge of my life, in foolish
bravado I ascended the million
steps to the Union Buildings -
nearly choked to death in the
attempt to defy gravity by
marching smartly

In the end I struggled up at
a sedate rate gasping for air,
all visions of glory gone, once
at the top I saw all the lunch-
time joggers clutching water
bottles passing, I took the
descending road

This time gravity made me
dance a fast fandango down
into the city - I think exercise
should be kept for going to the
library, the Union Buildings with
its army of slim and trim joggers
is not my scene

I only want to be fit enough
to read my book without
falling over with fatigue...