Gait

So many conditioned beliefs I have had to over time unlearn

In a totally opposite direction sometimes I’ve had to turn..

*

On how girls should walk, there were expectations age-old

Walking fast was not graceful, I was told

But I liked to sprint, speed over elegance I prioritized

I looked far from graceful, so I was criticized

I felt unpolished because I could not walk slowly

And for a long time, this continued to bother me

*

Now I am a doctor preaching the importance

Of movement- the speed of one’s gait has prognostic significance

To walk as much and as fast as possible one must strive

To spend more years on this planet alive

*

I have maintained a pretty good gait speed

Being vertically challenged, it is a blessing indeed

When I have to keep pace with those with a longer stride

I am not slow in walking-now I say that with pride..

*

With respect to being graceful, one thing I know

I am not going to look graceful with age if I walk slow

Because of imbalance, in-coordination or illness

Let me walk briskly and enjoy the process