This hobbling pain in my legs, my feet
when I rise in the morning, stand from a chair, emerge from a car.
Just over a year, now, since I started taking these pills.
I flex and stretch, rotate my ankles, wiggle my toes.

When I rise in the morning, stand from a chair, emerge from a car,
I know I’m lucky: my pain fades as I move.
I flex and stretch, rotate my ankles, wiggle my toes.
Better this than recurrence, metastasis.

I’m lucky the pain fades as I move.
One small, mustard-yellow tablet per day
is better than recurrence, metastasis.
Dear body, again you remind me: I will lose you.

One small, mustard-yellow tablet per day
for just over a year, now. Four years to go.
Oh, my body, you remind me to notice you.
Legs. Feet. Muscles. Bones.