'Who can forget that famous image – the monochrome of total exhaustion, falling into arms outstretched?'
Roger Bannister crosses the line
Poem by Rosemary Mathew in memory of Owen Taylor, primary school teacher
How we cheered in childhood,
back when we, in the world,
were young; seeing that tall figure
stride, steady as a metronome, to achieve
the unachievable, and,
reaching the end, give us the hopefulness
to believe the unbelievable.
Who can forget that famous image –
the monochrome of total exhaustion,
falling into arms outstretched? The adulation
later received so modestly, so
quietly, as he, in latter days,
took on his mightier task,
his greater contribution, and earned
the laurel wreath?
Rarely, since then, we’ve seen him,
so why now these tears?
Why this sorrow pulling at the heart?
Once again he has run the straight race
ahead of us; once again gone beyond our reach,
taking with him those innocent years.
Therefore we weep.
