written for Caroline Roberts-Gunn
As my confidence in exercise grew, it was suggested I might want to consider a Group Exercise class at my gym. This was where I first met Caroline. She literally held my hand for a year through a combination of boxing, running and weight training, all rolled into a 45 minute HIIT class. She is an incredibly dedicated instructor.
Without her enormous kindness and encouragement, I would have given up: she was the main inspiration to write a piece about the studio as a part of the Places of Poetry initiative, in which I wrote 24 poems about Southend on Sea, one of which subsequently became my second publication with Bloomsbury/OneWorld.
Caroline is also a cracking poet, and if I could rhyme a tenth as well as she is capable of doing…
Blazing Squad
Not smoking weed
looking to speed
for two decades
this mighty need
become more than
I was alone
so twice a week
this room’s my own.
From combat bag
to treadmill zone
join the Tribe; let truth be shown.
Allowing me
confused, afraid
to find belief
foundations laid
become much more
than simply fit
three magic words
‘Embrace the HIIT’
Fierce dance soundtracks
anxiousness blown
within the Tribe, our second home.
Family Atters
sweet Gen X
Joseph and Matt
Jo never rests
lovely Karen
Linda B
all twenty three
plus yours truly...
Cheers Caroline
Rachel, you rule
these Tribes, defining cool.
So here I am
evolving fast
assurance raised
true strength to last
beyond the confines
of their Gym:
see you next week;
let’s play to win.
Sum of our parts
great, worthy goal
my life's now whole.
Poem copyright S. Reeson © 2026
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