Shattered Column
The persistent short, sharp squeaking of a wheelchair rolling, Two decades of a life derailed, My spine, a shattered column, The crosscountry I ran, unfinished now forever. I squeeze my eyes shut trying to sleep And the demons scream from inside, Your leg is on fire, the relentless cascade, My physician calls the phantom limb. Feeling the sand getting robbed, From under my feet at the beach. Before the stumble, this crushing vanquish. To trot and leap, as a boy full of life, Revel in the glitter of childhood joys. But then I crave one last dream, To arouse the next dayspring, With this harm undone. Maybe a bruised knee Or another spank from Amma, But not this incessant numbness.