How I Danced!

The night is cold, awaiting the early light of dawn My body shivers, my feet like ice, I long for sleep but it does not come Like so many lonely hours in the darkness The ache of my bones so cruel and relentless Tears on my pillow, I once again slip from the warm covers Leaving the placid breath beside me, never knowing I’ve gone I would give so much to have the peace of slumber The chance to dream of an earlier life, one that is gone now Where I danced with the clouds on a warm spring day Ran in the woods chasing butterflies or a humming bird The gentle breeze brushing against my skin My soul free to be who I am, without the pain of this withering shell Some nights I long for an end to this misery Life has dealt such a difficult challenge But more often, I sit in the dim light of the morning Remembering my youth and the freedom that it gave How I laughed in its face, knowing I would always be young That I would always be ready to take on the world unencumbered How naïve…and how unappreciative of the wonders of my youthful body Pushing the limits of this fragile home to my soul, never fearing an end to my flight But the dawn comes, and I bravely go on to face another day Determined to make it the best possible Although this life, even with it’s wicked edge, so unexpected Arrived before I was ready to give up my wonderful dance of freedom I rub my twisted joints, warming them near the fire Knowing that, even through the pain there is hope For my mind is sharp, my wit is clever And I may yet find joys in the brightness and warmth of this new sun For I can still hear the birds sing their happy tunes Watch the grandchildren’s innocent play, their melodic giggles of joy And remember how it was not so long ago… And how I danced!