What I need

I do not care how you look with make-up.
I need to see the sweat
beading and dripping
salty and rainlike
off your arms
with every
step
you
run.

I do not care what clothes you wear.
I need to see the scars,
the marks, the divots
and tags that make
you a warrior
and show that
yes, you
have
lived.

I do not care how much money you make.
I need to know what you will
do when you have nothing
and noone and you
are lonely and
cold and
hungry
and
wet.

I do not care when you finish.
I need to know that you
bled, and screamed
and fought
mercilessly
the demons that
battled to
make you
DNF.

I do not care what kind of medals you won.
I need to know that you were there, and
you gave every ounce of your being
to the cause. And that,
that is what I need.
What I need
To know
I need
you.