Day Two

hands strong on arms of the chair
 from Jim
pushing up to stand
  from John
“only one half” she smiles at me
reaching to grab the waiting walker
 from Granddaddy
stepping steadily forward, one foot in front
of the other
 from Anda and Zoli
one foot in front of the other
 from Omi and rounding Lake of the Isles
at the bed she turns delicately around
 from Minnesota wind and ice
she says without sitting, “let’s go again,”
 from Poppie
one foot in front of the other
 from studying and teaching year after year,
 from peach roses and saffron daisies
one foot in front of the other
 from gardening all day and all day again,
 from blueberry picking and every sky
 she has ever seen, blue to black and black to blue,
 from happenings of which she is unaware
she reaches the chair, turns delicately
around and releases the walker
 from all her grandchildren
hands to the arms of the chair, strong and secure
 from great granddaughter Sylvie
and she sits to discuss the philosophy of walking
 from me