Pencil thin green shoots

push through last November’s

brittle and weathered leaves.

I am somewhere in-between

the brittleness and the green.

Let’s put an X here.

Yes, I carry these last five months with me;

Building back bone and trust,

Building back muscle and balance.

The world is hard right now.

The world is beautiful right now.

I am trying to live both.

I am crossing roads again on foot.

I look and look again. I know

I am slower, I know what can happen.

I carry too his words

I’m sorry.  I didn’t see you.

With me.

I am here.

I am visible.

I am trying to re-inhabit my body.

This body.  I have to

think about each step, place my foot

Down.  Urge it forward, something smooth.

I will my left arm to mirror

my right, I reach, try to remember

what it felt like to touch the sky.

Jks   April 2025