Recently, I have been chasing sunsets

It is not on purpose.
But I dawdle getting dressed, 
putting on my shoes, 
putting the leash on my dog

And even though my mother warns me, 
It’s getting dark! Don’t go now
I feel an itch in my bones
the kind from sitting behind a monitor all day
drinking obscene amounts of caffeine 
to keep my mind sharp 
for work that clamors to numb it.

My legs tremble
the day demands I sit still, and I oblige
somehow, at night, I cannot 
seem to still myself in my own skin

I run downhill first 
the sky is a kaleidoscope of color
my feet are pounding on the pavement
bass is pounding in my ears
my legs are screaming, my lungs are screaming
I go faster, faster, faster

This must be euphoria.

I know why they call them cotton candy clouds
lavender skies
because the sky is magic, or on fire, 
jeering, threatening to go black 

I am racing the sun
and the sun is a worthy opponent
painting the mountains blue, 
the trees black,
the horizon gold

On my way home,
the streetlights are on,
I can barely feel my legs
I can barely breathe

I keel over, hinge at my hip
twilight taunts me from the finish line
but my mind is more stubborn than my body
I won’t let my feet stop moving

The last hill is the steepest 
I let go of the leash
I play the song I always play
(solo, by Fred again)
we sprint up side-by-side, Raja and I

I lie down on hard concrete, gasping for air
yanking music out of my ears, 
I look up at the sky, 
which is still inky blue, and not yet black

Though stars already blink at me
from where the clouds used to be, 
the sun has not yet set

I win.