As I stood up

I realized:

sitting down

all this time

had made for

weak muscles

in once-strong legs.

I opened my mouth

to speak

and thought:

shit.

my throat is

closed up

right and tight.

I went to raise

my arms overhead

and they weighed

like flour sacks,

useless

in a kitchen corner.

I opened my eyes

and they saw

for the first time

beyond peripheral

and down

a wandering path

through parting trees

toward something

new.

My ears

leaned into listen

for the pulse

emboldening my body

to stand up!

in the first place.

And so

I take

just a single

god damn

step

forward

toward

that something

new.