It will take more than a chiropractor
to straighten her out.
When life’s bones are this brittle, misaligned,
misplaced, walking with
a limp is the least of her worries. Her
backbone has been broken more times than she
can count; self-splinting
has bred tendons spliced to indifferent
saviours, treacherous
lovers bent on abandonment. Self-doubt
leaches confidence
as surely as osteoporosis
saps strength and posture;
she raises tentative fingers, branches
clawing heaven’s door,
straining against the scoliosis scars
to grasp a sliver
of the blue she’s always known she can reach
if she stands up tall.
Meanwhile, Melody Muses... 
Melody, I love the hope and determination portrayed in your emotionally charged poem. I find myself cheering her on and upward.
Blessings ~ Wendy
How lovely. What a heart you have, Wendy, to join in so readily with the idea and heart behind the words. Blessing to you!
Been studying in the book of Luke. Just came across this a couple of days ago, it was what I needed to hear …. I think we get more done when we stand up straight …
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)
Love it! We get more done when we stand up straight… my hip went out this week, so this one is a wee bit biographical in the literal sense – and I am learning to stand up straighter in the figurative world, too – what great confirmation in the passage you mentioned!
just start with your head, dear one, straightening the vision and even dare to look up 🙂 Blessings
I DO dare to look up! What a wonderful view up there….
Self-doubt definitely is a leeching creature.
Time to go leech hunting…
Does salt still work?? Or is that an old wives tale?
Salt is deadly – dries them right to nothing, like weird magic. So – bring on the salt??
Well, we are salt and light, no?
I thought of that just as I hit ‘send’. It gives me a delicious sense of closure, just the right hint of poetic justice. 😉
Yes ma’am, it sure does. Want some oatmeal lemon bars? They’ll be cool in about 20–oh, but they do have “some” flour, not just oats in ’em–dang.
Virtual flour doesn’t count, right? Sounds lovely. You bake a lot, dontcha?
“A lot”, as the mood strikes me–probably when the holidays are past, I’ll take a break; guess it depends what I get hungry for!
I don’t have a lot of time or energy for that stuff these days, so it makes me feel hungry for some shortbread or somethin’.
Shortbread’s nice–I’d send you a Pound Cake, but that’s full of flour too, bummer.
I’ll take the thought and bottle it, shall I? And crack it open when I’m feeling peckish? 😉
Sounds good.
I hope your hip has returned to its rightful position. I am all sore and stiff today; this poem seems just right for me! Love the verse from Luke.
As long as my chiropractor knew what he was doing, all should be well as of this afternoon!!! 😉
Excellent.
The sliver of blue – the great home. Nicely done.
Thanks Lyle! I appreciate that….
I love the form and the message, Melody. Trees and humans display unique character and loft. We must ponder them one at a time…
Absolutely!! 😉
Despite all that – she is still beautiful 🙂
Love the photo!
Thanks Rosy!!
Good grief! I’ve got scoliosis for 44 yrs and your words make me feel that I can still stretch upward ! Magnificent !
Your spirit has no limits, friend – stretch away!