The blizzard snow did runway bury deep.
We fly on time, I'm told, by stewardess.
A stranded bride, her wedding date to keep,
Has pleaded with the airline, in distress.
A voucher large they offer to us all
To take a fourteen hour long delay.
And thus to Journey I can travel free.
Except my airline flies not to St. Paul.
So first in C. G. Zero I shall stay.
Then go, by bus, a city new, to see.

Beside the river, it is not yet dark.
Wring water from our rain-soaked clothes and bags.
We stretch and chat, and stroll about the park.
Oh, were you there, last night, in zombie drag?
From soapbox high a quiet voice commands.
We gather round, the rules are spelled out clear.
Manifests and ribbons passed around.
The runners tense and gather into bands.
Our faces smile, our eyes show hints of fear.
And then in howling instant, Journey-bound!

Toward island bonus or to checkpoint one,
I figure that the pack would likely head.
North East I turn, and quickly I do run
To take the checkpoint from the rear instead.
Cross parking lots and lawns and up to Fifth.
Hard running, ducking, sneaking, filled with fear.
Join group of frat boys, try to act the part,
and save my strength by trading speed for stealth.
They turn when highway bridge was drawing near,
Toward choke point I now race with speeding heart.

Beside the bridge, I spot a fearsome bird.
Could falconry be Unit's Easter Egg?
But there's no time to ponder the absurd.
I race across, begin another leg.
To Seventeenth, cross campus, double back.
See someone up ahead, and hug the walls.
In hidden stairwell, check the compass, map.
Then speed toward checkpoint, but there's no attack.
Signed forms, brief rest, and then my Journey calls.
I cannot stop, lest chasers build a trap.

A bonus checkpoint beckons, very near.
I take the risk, get lost in campus maze.
Through bushes, slinking. Wait, I was just here!
And there's the plaque! Rush toward it in a craze.
Then off again, three blocks, to alley, stop.
Pull map and study bridges. Which to pick?
Bridge Cappelin, far south, is a safe bet.
But time's been lost. Toward Washington I drop.
At ends of bridge, I'm sure, are chasers thick.
But I am fast, I may outrun them yet.

From lower deck, to indoor building stair.
Cross plaza, rush, and onto neutral ground.
Ribbons pass, this is a deadly snare.
Try handles 'til an unlocked door is found.
In crouching run, below the window glass.
I make my way along the unsafe trail,
To end of bridge, and climb the barricade.
Leap down, land running south. I'm hauling ass.
Two chasers, far behind, but on my tail.
In parking structure my escape is made.

I circle wide, approach Two from the rear,
To catch the checkpoint squatters unaware.
As I approach, three runners pass, in fear.
Two chasers on their tail, I flee from there.
Through hedge and into yard. What's this? Oh no!
Two children and a pool-toy stare in shock.
At sight of panicked stranger rushing past.
I cannot hide. To checkpoint two I go.
Three times am turned away and circle blocks,
On forth attempt, at last, complete the task.

A swarm of chasers hovers, buzzing 'round.
Next checkpoint and all bonuses are West.
I spot incoming runners, checkpoint bound.
As chasers watch them, I break from the nest.
Run east some blocks, then south, I quickly steer.
I stop and find I've wondered off the map.
On Franklin Avenue I travel west,
Toward bonus checkpoint, once more from the rear.
Then up Chicago, wary of a trap.
Search corner, garden, doorway, in distress.

A noise from down the street catches my ear.
Some gathered men who stand around and talk.
They're calm and don't react as I draw near.
Safe runners! Yes! Oh there can be no doubt.
So toward the group I go, run slow, at ease.
I watch for chasers hiding to my side.
And then when we are only feet apart,
Catch sight of red, and then confused, I freeze.
The fiends awake, and I've no chance to hide.
Nor run. Am tagged! Have lost! Oh, heavy heart.

My resurrection ribbon none do want.
Absurd, I say, for crazy they must be.
Then Dok agrees, and I begin to hunt.
And off I head in search of checkpoint three.
Midway I change my mind and opt instead
To start at checkpoint six, reverse the route.
A joyful Death I meet, and chat a while.
He tells me south on Nico' I should head.
From checkpoint four first runner started out.
I hatch a plan at bridge, in sniper style.

'Tween Nicollet and First street I do hide.
In bush in empty lot and bide my time,
With view of city block on either side.
Shea Wolf approaches slowly, I have time,
To creep with stealth to edge of bridge and then
Wait 'till his final rear-ward look, and run!
As quietly as I can I slip behind
And catch up to him 'fore he knows I'm there.
He has a resurrection ribbon. Fun!
Grab manifest then off and running blind.

Up Nicollet, cross bridge, and then I duck
Into a parking lot. Two fences hop,
At alley end turn corner, and what luck
Behind a resturaunt dumpster I can drop.
There's time to rest, drink water, study map.
Five blocks from checkpoint six and in the lead!
I plan a risky straight course up LaSalle.
Since Nicollet is sure to be a trap.
Stupidity is stronger than my greed,
Get lost, and onto Nicollet I fall.

Jump fence, then out from alley into street.
With naught to lose, I run without restraint.
In seconds I hear chaser's pounding feet.
Collide with taxi, flee from loud complaint.
Ahead the pillars beckon, checkpoint six!
From 'cross the street half dozen chasers swarm
Surround me from all sides, and I am penned.
We bob and weave along the corporate bricks
Then I am caught, blue ribbon finds new arm.
In thirty seconds, he's at Journey's end.

As chaser, once again, toward bridge I head.
Meet Oliver and join in planned stakeout.
Catch Dax! But wait, he is already dead.
Was running after Tac, whom I've helped out.
In hiding space beyond bridge rail I duck.
To ambush runners coming down the trail.
Am noticed, stranger's eyes are full of fear.
Ten minutes later, siren, lights, oh fuck!
Police car stops, and I vault over rail.
Three blocks, across a bridge, and I am clear.

I pause, look back, the cop stopped not for me.
A car, pulled over, happened to be there.
I lurk in stairwells, crouch high in a tree.
Decide I will not tag, but aim to scare.
A ribbon passes, wrong way down the path.
A chaser? No! A runner, I make chase.
I match her speed, will stop when turn she makes.
That was the plan, but fate other plans hath.
It's Dela, spent from yellow-ribbon race.
She stops, and I've no choice but ribbon take.

As runner numbers have begun to shrink,
Toward checkpoint closing time the hour grows,
I head for checkpoint five, coffee to drink,
Find Dax, who runs anew, and C. G. Oh's.
As bus pulls up, in bear hug I am trapped.
From safe to safe they rush before I'm free.
I run ahead, catch bus when next is stopped.
On bus, beside large runner I am cramped.
The driver sides with runners, against me.
Thus in the checkpoint safe zone they are dropped!

And here, dear reader, ends my journey tale.
A few quick comments further I will add.
As poetry, this text is full of fail.
As praxis, though, it is, perhaps, half bad.
Why mess about with complicated rhyme?
It is a gimmick, boredom for to fight.
See, Journey proofs are mired in sticky tar.
A straight writeup I'd not complete on time.
The brain which Journeys never learned to write.
And brain which writes watched Journey from afar.

I've run before from men who want to hurt.
From cops and muggers, running is no fun.
In Journey, though, with danger we just flirt.
I've na'er before so much enjoyed a run.
To run alone, in city strange, was grand.
On edge of being lost at every turn.
It's something primal, deep, without a name.
When words, I use, they always sound so bland.
I tell you that I've seen a fire burn.
It can't compare to gazing at the flame.

A chaser's job is nasty, dark, and cruel.
Now hear me out, I know we need the red.
A runner without chasers is a fool,
A Journey with no chasers would be dead.
The chaser's Journey, though, is mighty sad.
To steal away another runner's fun?
Each tag is not a victory, but loss.
As chaser, I just wound up feeling bad.
So thank you, reds, who gave me cause to run,
And took upon yourselves the chaser cross.

To Oliver and Star who lent us beds,
And Dax and Fox who, for me, did the same.
And all of M. N. Zero, live and dead,
Who showed us a good time the night we came,
InkTea, who battled traffic, caught my bus,
And Indy's friend whose name I can't recall,
To our brunch hosts and after-party crew,
And all who spent time visiting with us,
The Journey staff and planners, one and all,
I offer heart-felt thanks to each of you.