I walked outside on a January morning, and felt next to nothing
Squares of concrete pulled me forward, zebra stripes painted clear
I struggled to find a stride with my clunky steps and swinging hips
My eyes were now in charge, they mastered over every limb

  Over the fence a ball bounced
  White lines of chalk were being drawn
  "If you miss the ball you're out.
  Last one standing's called the king!"

The facility I was in did their best to set me straight
No one there had seen a case quite as strange as mine
Mother found me in my bed about a year ago
My voice was just a rasp of air, my arms and legs chaotic

  The seven children played their game
  After just one round had passed
  A girl, the tallest in their grade
  Ruled over the playground

They did their best to understand me using probes and tests
The doctor said that morning a part of my brain never woke up
Depression took hold quickly, and I was ready to end it all
But I couldn't make my hands hold a rope or a razor

  She jumped higher than all the boys
  And was faster than everyone too
  She held the red ball with pride
  And struck fear with every throw

After the first week I started making sense with words again
But it wasn't like talking before; Now I had to *look* to speak
Not exactly navel gazing, but seeing with my inner eyes
"Nurse, get me chloroform"; She flashed a crooked smile

  Her biggest rival was a sandy haired boy
  Who learned to run from his older brother
  But he made a fatal mistake that day
  He jumped sideways and scraped his knee

After two weeks I was surprised at all my progress
I learned to steer my arms and legs with my open eyes
After a month my hands had relearned how to hold objects
After months my eyes could tell my legs how they should walk

  Forty minutes into recess
  She was strong as ever, sure as steel
  Standing in first place, she laughed and sneered
  "Is that all you yellow-bellies got?!"

The rehab was unpleasant, but at least the depression eased
Yesterday they sent me home to resume life where I'd left off
I was shocked with apprehension, how could my life be the same?
"Take a walk every day," was my primary prescription

  The boy came back outside after visiting the nurse
  She sprayed some Neosporin and put a Band-Aid on
  "Back for more?" she spat his way
  Her jibe cut deeper than the asphalt

I passed the school a few blocks from home
And saw kids playing Four Square
They played their game so naturally
Agile as only the free can be

  They only had five minutes left
  Before the bell would call them in
  "You think you're staying in that spot?"
  Not today, prick... not today

His question echoed in my ears as the ball began its round
There I'd stay forever, if my eyes remained fixated
I was struck by the absurdity of my captain at the helm
A moment passed, then I laughed louder than ever before

  He caught the ball just in time
  When all the kids heard the chuckle
  They turned their eyes, he seized his chance
  To usurp his nemesis from her throne

"Hey, no fair! That weirdo make me look!"
"Shoulda kept your head in the game!"
"Dude, what the heck! Get outta here!"
I giggled as I watched the kids point and shout at me

  "Thanks for the help!" the sandy head said
  As the girl begrudgingly stepped away
  Into the back of the line, despicable
  "You suck! You cost me the game!"

I didn't care, I didn't care! I didn't care at all
It was the lightest I'd ever felt, lighter than the air
After a moment I shouted back "Ditto!" in my warbly tone
Sending thanks right back to the kid who won the round

  They watched the shoe gazer
  Start back on his path to nowhere
  "Why's he walking like that?"
  His gait was like buoyant clay