Individually sheathed and oiled
braided around my bones
guy wires that move me
tiny muscles work
fingers, toes, and eyes
a smile, laugh or frown
overlapping muscles
hold vertebrae upright
a gentle wand while
ever larger muscles
work ever larger bones,
smooth flat muscles
wrapped around my torso
for inspiration of oxygen,
expiration of tainted breath
from morning to night
to sit, stand, walk or run
turn, move forward or backward
without question
with only a thought, a reflex
despite being sore or stiff
despite years of living life
always the chance
for injury or loss
yet always ready to move on
“All we actually have is our body and its muscles
that allow us to be under our own power.”
~ Allegra Kent
