Shalene tells Anderson on national television
she was pissed off when the bombs ripped
Boyleston Street, tore the tar up. Killed three.
Mangled and dismembered two hundred
 
and sixty-four more than innocent bystanders.
And says again, this Flanagan, she was pissed
off, so quickly the network doesn’t have time
to bleep her words. As if we wouldn’t know
 
what she’s saying, our hometown, Boston-bred
(you can say Marblehead instead) street-running,
Heartbreak Hill-peaking, tuned-up runner.
Our street-talking, elite girl. Who says this race
 
is about pain, seeing pain in a leading, woman’s legs.
And knowing when to put down the hammer.
Although in her voice, every r  is lost
to the weathah. Endearing her to Anderson
 
and us, but not the terrorists. She runs on Patriots
Day to piss off, to put them in their place.
To look into the camera, our first finisher
to wear a tape across her chest.
                                               — Gary Magolis, Cornwall