The soft ‘slap-slap’ of institutionalized rubber soles
resound through years of familiarity,
sending echoes of anxiousness
arrowing into her mind. No one
understands being her. Premature,
medically challenged, her life
is all she owns, really. It’s precious,
and pain filled, a wonder, and a curse.
But it is hers, unique, absorbing,
worth fighting for, worth the discomfort
of hospital test torture sessions,
the pain of movement,
the pain to mind. Ah, but the mind,
that is the beauty of being,
the mind carries the soul,
entwines essence with growth,
expands consciousness. After all,
won’t that be the question we ask
in all of our spiritual journeys,
“Who am I?”

And as she is positioned, tethered
and studied for the thousandth time,
she smiles, because she can.

Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen
© Copyright 9/17/03

Dedicated to Karen and Karla, twin essences of beauty and growth. :) Karla, I wish I could give you a tiny fuzzy teddy angel everytime you went in for a scary procedure, I give you your spirit, instead, always hold tight to your living being, it is you. Smile.