the lightness of gravity

For the first time in my life

   I can feel my body

   I can feel it, blood and fingers,

   feet, muscle

I can feel them in my movements:

in the footstep of my gait

the breaststroke of my swim

   the stretch, the pull

the thumping pumping bloodrush

   the heat, the aching

the smooth and the easy forward

propulsion

I have never felt this fluid

   nor this light in my feet

not the rabbit strong way, not powerful,

but steadily, like the tortoise

I can feel one foot forward,

  and then the next,


the clockwork swinging of arms,


a deep breath filling my chest

and everything.



   I can feel my body.