Legs and feet

I am

paralyzed from the waist down

I no longer feel the coldness of the water

in my feet

or the dirt between my toes

as much as I loved it

I am no longer able to stand

I am no longer able to think for myself

I am no longer free to act

this all happened when

I stopped worrying about me

My legs had been cut out from under me

and I hadn't noticed

hadn't noticed that all this time

I hadn't taken one single step

by myself

I was handicapped,

till now.

I now see who I was

someone without heart and valor to fight

to fight for her own legs

to fight so that I may stand up

and walk

walk toward "my" life

A life that I will be able to build

with my own hands, and feet