For 37 years, I carried the G.H. Grohberg Poem "The Race" in my wallet and from time to time, would pull it out to read to my band kids. It is the story of a little boy running a simple, child's race and wanting desperately to make his father proud.  He falls down numerous times and eventually finishes last. The moral of the story is not in the failure to win but instead, having the the courage to rise each time you fall. That poem had been such an important part of me, that in 2011, I decided to put that feeling to music.  It begins with a simple, child like melody, that crescendos into something faster with expectation. We hear each fall and eventually the resolve to finish no matter what the result.   I always thought it was a great story for our competing bands.  I recently heard from a former student from 20 years ago that is now coaching his son's hockey team.  He asked if I could  send him "that poem" so he could read it to his kids.