Invictus

QIC: Fender

Date: 7/27/2021

PAX: Goofy, Schnieder, 60 Minutes, Sea Man, Van Gogh, Sub Floor, Boomerang (WD). Crash, Muggsy (WB), Fender

Invictus

William Earnest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
      Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
      I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
      Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
      How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
      I am the captain of my soul.

Above was my inspiration
      For a beatdown to remember
All things began before the sun
      Round we greeted each PAX member.
The Q was YHC this day
      Core principles, Mission statement,
After my failed attempt to say
      Warm-o-rama on hard pavement.
Fifty side straddle hops we did
      In cadence with calves wearing thin.
One PAX said,” What’s wrong with this kid?”
      Complaints already rolling in.
Little they knew the things to come
      Were going to be less pleasant
More painful, soul crushing, and glum
      The gift to be for those  present
From the block pile coupons in hand
      A mosey to the parking lot.
The dread ahead from where we stand
      Bears burpee records to be bought.
A poetic recitation
      Of Invictus broken apart.
To be learned upon completion
      The real fun begins – now we start!
Simple, NOT easy, were the rules
      For this, the PAX I’m sure attest
In their wake of sweat filled pools
      They all stepped up and gave their best.
Or should I say they crawled like bears
      While pushing square stones of concrete
Two parking spaces were their shares
      A break before each burpee beat
Ten spaces the length in total
      A share of burpees at each pause
Round one, Fifty burpees, That’s ALL?
      Much more needed to fill the cause.
Then twice the number round two begged
      With bonus burpees in between.
Two hundred burpees now were pegged
      Time enough for more to be seen.
The journey’s last leg brought some more
      One hundred to round things about.
Three hundred total we each bore
      Return the stones, bodies give out.
Some were religious about form.
      Some modified as the need be.
All PAX shared their feelings so warm,
      About this Q’s insanity.
Boomarang said his memory crashed.
      Crash mastered all but goofed at one.
Goofy’s three ten of something smashed
      While SubFloor improvised his own.
Van Gogh blazed a trail to admire.
      Muggsy survived his second post.
Sea Man, Sixty Minutes, Schneider
      Ran away to avoid the roast.
YHC aimed at three hundred
      He came up sharp, ten more burpees.
Circled in trust a prayer he said
      Muggsy’s kid, Safe Spartan journeys
Grateful for the records we set
      But more for what it means to serve
and run with HIMs I am beset
      A gift much more than I deserve.