hard & soft

a free verse poem (NaPoWriMo #20) I never want to beone-trick-ponied intoanything I don’t wantto become.last February, I fell down a flight of stairs, twisted myright ankle. I’m nowgifted with clicks and pops and seconds of discomfort regularly. I brace it up for mywalks and workoutsjust as I’ve done withmy left knee.a fall isn’t going tostop me, arthritis won’t, either. the hard parts of meknow what it takes to survive. the soft parts of me will fightuntil they do. I’m your worst nightmare when Iwant to reach my goals.stubborn, yes. eager, of course!motivated, always.I’m on my time whileyou struggle to boxme into a world thatcouldn’t hold me with Super Glue.good luck with yourplans of ending me. I’ll even give you aheadstart, so I canwatch you fail. *Originally published on Substack Notes.