Over and over
the physiotherapist recites
a litany of bones:
'Calcaneus,
talus, navicular,
medical
cuneiform, sesamoid
lateral cuneiform, sacrum,
femur, hip, patella,
tib and fib, metatarsal,
calcaneus, talus, navicular . . .'
Metatella
tibble fibble petatarsel
dopey
from drugs we don't retain the names.
She wills us to smile,
draws cartoons
of movement we must make.
Her comic heroine's Zazel
a human canonball with scarlet lips
whose flexi-limbs contort
more readily than ours.
Unmonkey-like, in cots,
we cling to the trapeze
no body-builders,
test our strength with weights
pump muscles, clench
our fists, bend knees.
Patient she appaluds each small advance
and promises reward for work well done.
I crave an entertainment 'and it must be good.'
Next day a junior physio,
evening student
at the City Lit of circus skills,
bows to my feet and juggles, just for me.
From such pleasures healing comes.
I crow for joy and swear I will recover.
