Michelle Faulkner | + Follow Poet |
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I Stand Here

I stand here, on twisted limbs
Teetering upon broken knees
My feet stunted, unnatural
Thickly traitorous to motion

I force forward, to meet agony
Blades of pain, penetrating
Through torturous phantom minutes
Of solitary, sacrificial steps

These feet once danced
A tricky beat
Carried the obligation
Of force
And the belief of boldness
Now these feet
Are brittle and indiscreet

Tomorrow is beyond four gray walls
In swirling dresses and polished wood floors
Colors of music, shades of rhythm
For movement to flow, for grace to know

So I stand here
To make it so.

10/12/18

Copyright © Michelle Faulkner | Year Posted 2018

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James Marshall Goff Date: 2/9/2019 9:45:00 PM "Thickly traitorous to motion" one of many poetic, masterful lines Michelle! Congrats! jimbo Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 2/9/2019 11:25:00 PM Thank you, James ( or jimbo?) so glad you liked it!

Sandra L. Weiss Date: 2/9/2019 5:30:00 PM Congrats Michelle, on your big win. A strong poem! Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 2/9/2019 5:43:00 PM Thank you so much, Sandra!

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 2/9/2019 4:03:00 PM Michelle, what I love most about this poem is that although you have had some hard times, you can still envision a better life and you "stand here" determined to make it happen. When I researched "hope," this was an important element -- seeing something better and feeling motivated to pursue it. Congratulations on second place in my contest. Please send me a Soup Mail to let me know where I can send your prize. Best wishes, carolyn Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 2/9/2019 5:42:00 PM Thank you, Carolyn, I'm very flattered (though I must confess the poem is fictional, but inspired by a news story I read)

Line Gauthier Date: 10/21/2018 9:48:00 PM Congrats on your podium finish, Michelle. Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/22/2018 2:10:00 PM Thank you,Line!

Kim Rodrigues Date: 10/20/2018 8:09:00 PM Pain, suffering, beauty and hope all appear in your momentous poem! Congrats on second place, Michelle! Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/21/2018 12:07:00 AM Thank you for your wonderful comments, Kim!

M. L. Kiser Date: 10/13/2018 10:17:00 AM Superb imagery here, "Swirling dresses, polished wood floors Colors of music, shades of rhythm For movement to flow, for grace to know So I stand here To make it so-" Any poem that I can feel because the imagery is so good, I love. A fabulous read. Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/13/2018 3:57:00 PM Thank you for such a gracious comment!

Pat Adams Date: 10/12/2018 11:20:00 PM So you have a dark side too, intriguing! I've had a "traitorous body" more than once, but that's a whole different story!...........Great pen!.....pat Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/13/2018 3:58:00 PM Sometimes I try to go more serious, like this one - appreciate the comment!

Caren Krutsinger Date: 10/12/2018 8:18:00 PM I was picturing myself, Michelle, the time I tore my ACL and meniscus and bruised the bone and did something else I do not exactly remember - but I do know it was four things on the same day. I felt every inch of this second stanza. "I force forward, to meet agony The blade of pain, penetrating Through torturous phantom minutes Of solitary, sacrificial steps." This was five years ago, and I will never completely forget how afraid I was to try and walk again. A Great MEMORY jolter, Michelle! Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/13/2018 4:03:00 PM I've dislocated my kneecaps more than once, hurts a lot, but not the kind of pain you experienced, thanks for your comment-

Gershon Wolf Date: 10/12/2018 3:36:00 PM Not quite sure what brought this one on, perhaps your tribute to your mother, but it sure is a gut-wrencher. Best wishes always, Gershon Login to Reply Michelle Faulkner Date: 10/12/2018 4:23:00 PM Actually I saw a news story about a boy with cerebral palsy who became a marathon runner and that was the inspiration-