my body had changed.
It’s not old age, well,
maybe some I can blame
on Father Time.
I have a body,
with bones and joints
that are not the same,
as another who’s
age resembles mine.
I fell into the gene pool
of arthritic chaos,
and now I have joints
to which are not my own.
Metal and rubber
to clank around, until
Father Time says
I’ve had enough time
here swimming daily, so
my body movements
flow ever so freely.
Arthritis in a chaotic world
can sometimes be unbearable,
as my bones go grinding
together on dark,
stormy nights.
They simply don’t have
to remind me
what I already know.
I have arthritis but I
simply can’t let it define me.
Sandie Heckman