Long Jumper Poem by Gert Strydom

Early he had measured his own steps,
wanted to get the distance correct
to reach his utmost, very biggest jump,
instinctively he did already know
that this single moment, this split second
would take everything from ingenuity
and he did then prepare himself,
but at great speed that was eating power

he knows that he is breaking the record
as if the air is giving him some wings,
is swept with everything that he has,
as if life is moulded to the moment
as if he begs God for very fulfilment
in that jump he has to give something.