I Can Do the Thing

Years ago I announced

I would train my body to do a split

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I downloaded an app

As one does

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30 days at the Beginner level

I ache

But progress is there

-

30 days stretching in the Intermediate wheelhouse

Pain blinding me from envisioning the finish line

This does not feel as good as I thought it would

-

30 days donning Advanced level credibility

And my muscles are begging me to stop the abuse

-

I hypothesized that it would just be

A leg in front and a leg behind

-

I foresaw that I would be all the things I've never been

Extending galaxies and moons past my base physical capabilities

Without factoring in the suffering

-

I wanted the thing

Minus the turmoil

-

I kinda want all things

Agony redacted

-

Setting aside my wonky,

distorted,

paper 3-D glasses view on life

-

I completed the thing

-

I can do a fucking split

Even though it hurts like a bitch

And my back leg looks weird

-

I am going to conserve this flexibility

Nurture it as it matures

Today I squeak onto the mat

Someday I'll glide