Today is
@londonmarathon We can’t wait!
Live coverage starts at 8:30 AM on the
@bbcsport or - of course - in your favourite local street.
Illustration: ‘Marathon Day’ by Sofia Hericson,
@sofiahericson
Poem: ‘Heroes’ by Wieke Vink,
@comm.unitypoetry
[Description: an illustration of a colourful scene. A street is shown, full of runners and racers - both club and charity runners. Outfits include an eagle, a shark, an icrecream and a rhino. On the right, there is a wheelchair racer. At the bottom of the drawing, cheering arms are being portrayed, with confetti and musical instruments. In the background, you see famous London landmarks, like the
@londoneye , and banners that read ‘You got this!’, ‘run run run’ and ‘go, go, go’. Whilst this visual is being shown, the poem ‘Heroes’ is being played, as written and performed by poet Wieke Vink.
Heroes
Some people get to meet their hero once in a lifetime
Some get to cheer them on with friends
Some get to share their homes with them
After the heroes have completed
Or started
This race of prestige
Salt on heads
Snacks at the ready
The rhinos, Big Bens and George Pig’s daddy
On the sidelines
Club music mixed with
Tambourines and banners
The racers flowing through the city like rivers
Wheels and feet
Making the most glorious stampede
With personal fire or holy motivation
When the going gets dire
But there is a water station
And the spectators,
First aiders,
Traffic regulators
Acting as if we would always just come out together like this in the sun
Taking courage at the London Marathon
Because today, dear heroes
It’s all about the energy and atmosphere
*You’ll get there*
So pop an energy gel
Find your high fives
Tap some cardboard if need be
And -
No cutting corners at Cutty Sark
Just follow the spark
Lightheartedly cross bridges
Factor 30 on noses and legs as you
Bounce along with the people calling out the names of runners from T-shirts
Causes at the front or back
No backing off now
*Hear those ‘come on’s*
For the champions and the masses alike
No matter your finish time
Just by starting
You have already won
Mile after mile
The elite run for your muscles and our hearts].
![Today is @londonmarathon We can’t wait!Live coverage starts at 8:30 AM on the @bbcsport or - of course - in your favourite local street.Illustration: ‘Marathon Day’ by Sofia Hericson, @sofiahericsonPoem: ‘Heroes’ by Wieke Vink, @comm.unitypoetry[Description: an illustration of a colourful scene. A street is shown, full of runners and racers - both club and charity runners. Outfits include an eagle, a shark, an icrecream and a rhino. On the right, there is a wheelchair racer. At the bottom of the drawing, cheering arms are being portrayed, with confetti and musical instruments. In the background, you see famous London landmarks, like the @londoneye, and banners that read ‘You got this!’, ‘run run run’ and ‘go, go, go’. Whilst this visual is being shown, the poem ‘Heroes’ is being played, as written and performed by poet Wieke Vink.HeroesSome people get to meet their hero once in a lifetimeSome get to cheer them on with friendsSome get to share their homes with themAfter the heroes have completedOr startedThis race of prestigeSalt on headsSnacks at the readyThe rhinos, Big Bens and George Pig’s daddyOn the sidelinesClub music mixed withTambourines and bannersThe racers flowing through the city like riversWheels and feetMaking the most glorious stampedeWith personal fire or holy motivationWhen the going gets direBut there is a water stationAnd the spectators,First aiders,Traffic regulatorsActing as if we would always just come out together like this in the sunTaking courage at the London MarathonBecause today, dear heroesIt’s all about the energy and atmosphere*You’ll get there*So pop an energy gelFind your high fivesTap some cardboard if need beAnd -No cutting corners at Cutty SarkJust follow the sparkLightheartedly cross bridgesFactor 30 on noses and legs as youBounce along with the people calling out the names of runners from T-shirtsCauses at the front or backNo backing off now*Hear those ‘come on’s*For the champions and the masses alikeNo matter your finish timeJust by startingYou have already wonMile after mileThe elite run for your muscles and our hearts].](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739346369257052333015_0_f9b8924cb4e6dbeedb407286a3650bfb.jpg?o=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&h=07e12c508dcdec127ad0dfbea004b3ed)
![In spring we... become like our grannies. Here’s our April collaboration.Illustration: ‘Sketch 20 - plant spa day’ from her Substack daily sketches series, by Sofia Hericson @sofiahericsonWords: the poem ‘Plant swap’ by Wieke Vink @comm.unitypoetry[Description: an illustration of a balcony, with many plants, plant pots, gardening tools and a black and white cat. Whilst this illustration is being shown, the poem ‘Plant swap’ is being played, as written and performed by the poet Wieke Vink.Full text of the poem:Plant swapWith small clips of lifeMy house is turning into a nurseryAs we share stories of our nans with our friendsOf growing up in her hair salon, standing next to chairs,listening to aunties of all job roles and none;the grandmother who loved reading; the onessharing our beds or the oneWho’d never even find the time to comb her hair;curls in a rumble, hands in soil;always moving plants, repotting, replotting,with grandfathers shaking their headsat the repeated effort – each year, for years.Like carte blanche, at 35I’m cutting into ancestryI am becoming like them, both my friends and my nansAs we see our grandmother’s laugh in our children’s eyesUs, women who have come from previous womenWe speak about war and threat, whilst we slowlyThread the traces of our little ones on our handsWe exchange glancesWhen winter comes, soup recipesWhen spring comes, plant babiesAs for me, I hold onto the word ‘plumeau’First spotted in my materfamilias’ houseAnd I remember thinking‘Look at us, using French words- and we’re not even fancy’As the world keeps turning in on itself, in a frenzyAnd I wonder whether a child will ever think of me like thatAs the person who takes the plants out, who dusts off the worldwith fancy words in artificial colours.]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739524252452852272825_0_c5d740f906e0501727bcfd0fba3b4186.jpg?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9zY29udGVudC1pYWQzLTIuY2RuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS92L3Q1MS43MTg3OC0xNS82NzE3ODUyMTRfMTYzMDMyODY4NDc1ODA3MV85NjIyMzkxNDQwOTAyMTQyNjZfbi5qcGc/c3RwPWMxMC4wLjYyMC42MjBhX2RzdC1qcGdfZTE1X3R0NiZfbmNfaHQ9c2NvbnRlbnQtaWFkMy0yLmNkbmluc3RhZ3JhbS5jb20mX25jX2NhdD0xMDMmX25jX29jPVE2Y1oyZ0gwaVNkV2VSVEhlLVlneWwtWnlXamZQbUFyMlBXcnd6dlZYdEVNU01HWkxMb3FfYU5fWUgxcWRmOVExZUV0WTNIQnhCcW5zYmpYYVIwVWNEUHNxQk1FJl9uY19vaGM9dGphTFV3YTdhQmdRN2tOdndFOWZZR1UmX25jX2dpZD1WSmNJMVVXcDN3bHpJTUNIZ1R3M2lBJmVkbT1BUFU4OUZBQkFBQUEmY2NiPTctNSZvaD0wMF9BZjVjMTRrWmhlWXhyUFNxV1JEQnQ1R0NEbFZDQjdyVi01c1lyYnlxeWoxaVV3Jm9lPTZBMEVFREYxJl9uY19zaWQ9YmMwYzJj&h=fbc4679fe4c02c4477206976ddd316ef)
