Today I Celebrate My Body
that body that suddenly couldn’t move,
the hand that couldn’t hold a pen or open a cap,
that body that couldn’t turn over in the bed.
Each new thing I can do—
close my hand around the pill bottle,
hold a book,
write my name—
I celebrate.
I even celebrate my faltering step,
my one leg dragging.
These and other movements we take for granted
until we can no longer do them
and only then, do we learn gratitude
for our ability to get out of a chair
and walk even a few feet with help.
Each day I get stronger.
One more thing that I can do
and I celebrate each small victory,
although I know I probably will quickly forget
and take all theses daily miracles for granted again,
ones I deserve and don’t ever want to lose.
by Maria Mazziotti Gillan
"Today I Celebrate My Body" first appeared in Ragazine
Maria Mazziotti Gillan's most recent books are the poetry and photography collection, Paterson Light and Shadow and the poetry collection, What Blooms in Winter. Her collection of poems paired with some of her paintings is The Girls in the Chartreuse Jackets. Her artist's website is MariaMazziottiGillan.com and her poetry website is MariaGillan.com.
3 comments:
Inspiring, touching, intimate, human--as Maria always writes.
intimate and human - as Maria always writes and as Maria always is. Thank you Maria we lift you up as you do for us with your poetry.
Great piece of work, I mean in the body of the text. You really walk us through your thoughts and experience.
Post a Comment