Sara Etgen-Baker | + Follow Poet |
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A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALK: When My Life Changed Poetry Contest

A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALK
Poem written for and submitted to “When My Life Changed” Poetry Contest, Kai Micheal Neumann, sponsor.
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Early morning, sun dripping gold over weathered fences.
     I was running, feet rhythmically striking the pavement.

Then a sudden jolt, my foot caught in a yawning crack.
     I remember the gasp, the sharp intake of breath.

The sky spun, a dizzying blur of blue. 
     The asphalt, bitter and gritty, greeted me.

Pain erupted, my sturdy ribs shattering like porcelain dreams. 
     My taut and athletic back, now a crumpled map of hurt.

My shoulder, a tattered sail, flapping in the wind.
     I lay on the ground, a helpless marionette with frayed strings. 

&&&&
Underneath fluorescent glow of the emergency room, the bright white sheets
     embraced me.
The air was thick with antiseptic, the scent of fear mingling with shock.

I succumbed to the lullaby of anesthesia, the world fading to a distant hum.
     I dreamt of running—a memory wrapped in gauze and quiet longing. 

The surgeons cut and stitched, the confluence of metal and skill. 
     After, I lived in a cocoon of pain and immobility, counting the months of
          physical therapy. 

Months stretched like silent shadows, the world outside a blur .
     I, a statue, saw the seasons change—my body and spirit temporarily
          tethered to the earth. 

I still remember the freedom of running, the wind in my hair, the earth
     beneath my feet.

Now I find solace in walking, each stride a careful sigh, a bittersweet
     reminder of what I lost. 

The world feels foreign, though, my back a crooked spine of broken dreams,
     three inches lost to gravity, the weight of time pressing down. 

I reflect upon the journey, the scars on my skin, and the lessons learned
     in quiet moments.

I am a different sort of strong now, hunched over, but unbroken, moving 
     forward with faith and grace—one step at a time.

Copyright © Sara Etgen-Baker | Year Posted 2025

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Bill Baker Date: 8/15/2025 9:49:00 PM A beautiful poem, Sara. The imagery was fantastic, and the many descriptive phases were delightful to read. Great entry for the contest! Good luck, my friend! Bill Login to Reply Sara Etgen-Baker Date: 8/16/2025 6:30:00 PM thank you, Bill! Your comments are awesome! hugs, me