Grounded Poem by Paul Clement Czaja

Life lives
In your goodness,
My son,
In your gracefulness
Toward numbskulls
And even dummy donkeys
Like floppy face me.

My wise companion
Of the road
Ever rising and calling us
On love’s long walk
To eternity,
I welcome you
As my sojourner,
Always a friend
To any in need,
Nurturing sweet as apple pie.

Able counselor of my life,
I am broken and worn out
And tired
Even in this bright springtime.
Son, oh my son,
I am languishing
In this prison of my body -
No longer able to do
What I did do
All my life
When my muscled and youthful self
Was flying
Here and there
Like the eagle ethereal.

Now I am broken down
Like a bird
With a wounded wing
Piteous to see
Grounded
Day in, day out.

Come,
Be by my side.
Sing to me.