To My Body

to my body, that works so hard to lift, contain
and transport all that makes me
me
every thought and emotion that lives inside this flesh and
there is a lot of flesh
bones, sinew, ligaments, and untoned muscle
but it holds true.

a toast, in thanks, for being there through thick and thin
mostly thick
and even when aching and broken and damaged
still holding me tight.

an apology for playing favourites
a bad habit I admit but
I never was too fond of my Hobbity toes
or rough elbows that never fail to get in my way

I don’t always pay attention to where you are
but you remind me
with bruises and scrapes
and that one shattered ankle
now mended by medicine, science and time.

I thank you for the curves
and even the rolls
and the cellulite that some clever marketer willed into existence
all proof that famine and ill health
have yet to find me.

if middle is an age, I am there now
and parts of you have begun to decay
still guided by shorter lifespans of my ancestors
but I have chosen the extended warranty
through the pharmacy
and that seems to be agreeing with you.

so if I grumble offhandedly, forgive me
I am truly thankful for the years of unquestioned service
and while I do sometimes consider
subtle adjustments
you are my body, and I will never trade you in for a new model.

It took me a year, but I finally got around to uploading my reading:

Photo, © Shawn DeWolfe. Thank you to hubby for taking the photo that accompanies this piece. It was edited only to adjust the colour to compensate for the lack of natural light and cropped to focus on the subject.