Photo by Rachel Hoyt. © 2011 All rights reserved.
The tortoise and the hare raced in the San Francisco rain
as other costumed folks rushed the streets like bulls in Spain.
I suppose no observer would have called their pace racing
but if you asked them, they'd blame inadequate spacing.
With mobs of Elvis's, Waldos and Smurfs in your way,
it's funner to indulge your turtle pace for a day.
It was the Bay to Breakers centennial anniversary,
an event all gallavanters and lookie-loos should see.
Unfortunately, some of the locals hope it was the last.
They aim to make this race/party a thing of the past.
It's similar to the problem faced by Floatopia fans:
a rowdy minority peeing wherever and leaving behind beer cans.
The difference between the two is the "honeymoon" length.
Each time an event repeats itself, the tradition gains strength.
After a hundred years, many families have built memories
racing in costume or hosting street side revelries.
At what point does the event come with the territory?
Can't the people work together to keep things hunky-dory?
I know no other race where you could go
to see such a wacky and incredible show.
Captain Hook wandering around with Tinkerbell.
Angels from Heaven jogging with demons from Hell.
The Royal Wedding running past the US Cabinet.
People taking pictures with some naked guy they just met.
Sure, no event can accommodate everyone's taste,
but that doesn't mean we should destroy it with haste.
One hundred years is a long time to keep up tradition.
Must mother nature strike again to prevent it's omission?
The tortoise remembered that was how it all began...
and to honor another tradition, she ran....
three steps across the finish line, winning again.
© Rachel Hoyt 2011. All rights reserved.
This rhyme is being shared at One Stop Poetry.
Click on over to join in the fun with me.
I'm also sharing this poem in the Thursday Poet's Rally
and would like to thank those who voted for me in the tally.
I'm overjoyed to win the Perfect Poet Award - Summer 2011.
Your votes (to me) are like manna from heaven.
This rhyme is being shared at One Stop Poetry.
Click on over to join in the fun with me.
I'm also sharing this poem in the Thursday Poet's Rally
and would like to thank those who voted for me in the tally.
I'm overjoyed to win the Perfect Poet Award - Summer 2011.
Your votes (to me) are like manna from heaven.
