i use the
walking sticks
to take some
weight
from my legs.
to lessen
the soreness
of knees.
i use the
walking sticks
to allow
myself less
precision
in my steps;
“see there”,
i say
stumbling,
“i would have
fallen
were it not for these
walking sticks”.
i feel
sadness
when i think of
people
alone
in their homes.
i feel
sadness,
too,
when i am
alone
in my home.
though,
i often
enjoy
this aloneness,
and know
others must too.
without
the grace of
Rilke
i cannot
speak so well
on solitude,
its joy.
i can say that
loneliness
is often
a choice,
while
abandonment
is often not.
and i can
say
that to be
alone
can sometimes
seem
to leave us
only but one
choice;
loneliness.
with the
walking sticks
i can take
bigger steps,
can lean
upon their
handles
to cushion
the impact
from a big
step down.
can push
against them
to help propel me
up.
abandonment
is often not
our choice,
but we can choose
if
we will be
lonely.
i cannot
always choose
when
i go.
i cannot
choose who
goes
from me,
when they
go.
with
walking sticks
my legs are
less sore,
but
still the calves
cramp,
as i spend
the rest of the day
reclined
in the leather chair,
the leather chair
in the empty home,
quiet and
clean.
i drink
many glasses
of water.
i roast
potatoes
in butter and
400 degrees.
i listen
to music,
read
books,
watch
the television.
i will not
ever choose
to abandon
you.
zakschafer.com 