Doing It All
So there I be in 41

Decided, “Hell this room’s not fun!”

I couldn’t rest the term in bed

And fell out 2 ½ months ahead.



Mere inches long a tad a TAB

A few days normal wasn’t so bad

But then the bill was handed me

And my brain burst blood and turned CP.



My first few years struggled and slow,

Hospital visits, fever’s glow

Though rarely strong and quite sickly

Grew curious, strong willed, glad to be me.



Read and wrote before school

Pulled from my friends for the cripple pool

Got night brace, therapies and walking skills

Excelled in studies and scholastic drills.



Went through teens a popular lad

Then hormones hit and feeling scared

Retreated in books and brainy sass

Proudly graduated at the top of my class.



Went to college to claim a degree

Found interest in math, lit, and history

Got accepted for Linguistics Master

But went to work to make money faster.



Over years of jobs built a career

Took on challenge, faced down fear

Lead Labor Union and Disability Rights

Rammed full joyous sleepless nights.



Suddenly crashed in vicious tumble:

Last fifteen years of grope and stumble

Living long days for infrequent gain

With partial quad and chronic pain.



Approaching now renewal year

Laughing time, some gentle care;

To probe and prod outside my cloister

And taste full tongued the World's Oyster.

 I. Stephen Margolis