Gillian Kavanagh

The Place I Did Not Leave

This is the gym I didn’t leave in early December

Where a family did not come together

This is the place where a decision was not made

Where chosen siblings did not last forever

And the sound of laughter did not fade 

Athletes train here every night of the week,

But all of us uppers know we’ve already hit our peak

The girls all lean on the steps by the pit

And the boys don’t hear their coach telling them not to sit

This is the place I didn’t leave in early December

It is a choice that I do not regret

Because you can’t give up a family

And that's something I will never forget