It changes as we
Age.
When I first met
Jack,
His stride was strong
And sure.
We held hands
And almost skipped
Along the sidewalk in
Those early days of
Love joy.
We hiked.
Jack used walking sticks
That looked like
Ski poles,
And at the park,
When people neared
Us on the path and
Stared,
Jack quipped, "Have you
Heard the weather
Report?"
His gait just
Slowed a bit at first.
And then came the
Season of canes.
We bought new ones
Because he lost the
Old ones,
But we just laughed
About it.
Finally, the canes
Gave way to the
Walker which he
Tried to maneuver down
The hall without
Banging into
The wall.
It was his last aide
Before the wheelchair.
I thought of Jack's progression,
Regression,
When I saw the once spry
Couple shuffle down
The aisle at church,
One supporting the
Other.
I saw them and I
Sighed.
No matter how hard
We try,
We can't stop the process,
The regress.
Our walking changes
As we age.