Villanelle

The Battle

It may be a race, but it feels like war
My legs drive, my hand grips
Then the coxswain yells “I want more”.

With the splash of my oar
Through the rough water it rips
It may be a race, but it feels like war

As a single unit, exploiting our core
We push into the wind that whips
Then the coxswain yells “I want more”.

With raw strength, collectively the blades soar
Painfully we pull and the shell zips
It may be a race, but it feels like war

With nothing left, it ends with a roar
Exhausted, breaths escape my lips
Then the coxswain yells “I want more”.

Muscles fatigued, tomorrow we will be sore
We come to a stop, the speed dips
It may be a race, but it feels like war
Then the coxswain yells “I want more”.