Life In Reverse
By Jay Curtis
Dreams bring on the freedom to dance.
Waking brings increasing limitations.
Progressing de-nerving has me devolving,
in reverse gear undoing growing pains.
Sometimes I laugh at my ineptitude
unable to accomplish the simple things
zipping, buttoning, gripping, holding.
There is hope in finding new habits
and joy in remembering the old ones.
My grandfather taught me to sign my name.
My mother taught me to tie my shoes.
My father taught me to throw a knuckle ball.
Skills gone like a seeded lawn under spring snow.
I imagine traveling back to innocence,
ignoring the strangling bracelets of thorns.
Even now, I find new roses blooming,
brightening my once traveled return path.
As precious as muscle memory may be
other learning is not ruled by nerve fibers.
I will spark the remaining fuel of the fire within
using any communication method possible
to file reports from the battlefield front.
No matter how much my shell deteriorates
both wide-eyed innocence and experience
will surround me like night bloom.
Look for me in your rearview mirror
as I live the rest of my life in reverse.
