She doesn’t mind the shape of my legs,

Or that I might shave them.

She cares not that I devote a little time out on the road.

In fact she’s always with me in one way or another.

She knows that I need to work out.

That it’s good for my head.

In truth she is part of my head. Like a beautiful thought,

that is also sometimes difficult, complex

and challenging.

That is why she cannot be trifled with.

Love doesn’t work that way.

And when I come round the last turn on a track workout,

or a long ride with hills, wind or even rain,

her memory rolls along with me.

She likes my body the way it is, sometimes,

but isn’t afraid to encourage a little more work

on the weaknesses, and the strengths,

and everything in between.

And there is lovemaking in there too. It builds the spirit.

She has a few friends and I always pay attention to them

even if a few days of the week is all that can be managed.

She travels along with me, saying,

“this is how it’s done.”

And forgive yourself

if you’re not perfect. But never quit trying.

In other words she is manifold, not just one soul

but many, built through seconds, minutes, hours,

days, months, years, a lifetime.

Through all this there are recollections she brings about

but she cannot be too sentimental.

That gets you nowhere, she says.

And she is right about that.

Yet we can learn from our sentiments

and our hopes, just how much we can take

and still survive. That which does not kill us

makes us yearn for answers to all those questions

that begin with, “How” and “why” and “when” and “who” and “what?”

For she always asks many questions.

Because guess what, there are also many answers

and they have to come from somewhere.

Which you find out with every footfall

and every revolution of the tires.

A stroke in swimming or a push of the weights.

Through yoga she whispers and at first

it is hard to listen. Through all things

you’ve been listening, now it is time to actually hear

what she is saying, and who is she?

She is running and riding and swimming.

She is that being within yourself

that knows no gender, only

weak or strong, tough or vulnerable.

Made from the carbon of the universe

yet distilled into muscle, bone and brain.

She is you, and all the things you do. And thensome.

She doesn’t mind the shape of my legs,

Or that I might shave them. 

She cares not that I devote a little time out on the road. 

In fact she’s always with me in one way or another. 

She knows that I need to work out. 

That it’s good for my head. 

In truth she is part of my head. Like a beautiful thought,

that is also sometimes difficult, complex

and challenging.