What once was done so easily
becomes the fighting of a life
as hands grasp handles, nudge their walkers,
scuffing rubber through the room.

"Keep going," spur the therapists.
Reluctant lunges: wheels screech.
Thin limbs sift through uneven strengths
of muscles humbled, cumbersome.

Raw nerves reflect the awes of falling,
anger, anguish, shame, defeat.
"Again," it's pressured, "almost there."
The prize: to reach a distant chair.