you wake up
every morning as
light & lithe as a
chipmunk.
you fall off a
motorcycle many
times, cuss & drive
away.
the dogs may
bite, the bees may
sting–
you don’t
care.
this goes on for
many years. youth
conquers
all.
things change
slowly. things
change.
you pass the
invisible boundary of
respected middle
age.
you try to
touch your toes, but
your ligaments have
ossified & your
tendons
retired.
you awake &
before you open your
eyes, you scan your
body for new
disasters.
fear is almost
worse than
pain.
your arm is
hurt. you visit the
doctor; take the magic
pills; do the
exercise.
months pass.
& then you
realize:
your body’s not
getting
better any
more.