quiet confidence

a quietness steals over me

of confidence now that i am upright

my feet and knees stay under me

carrying me where i wish to go

but this past year has not always

been so

i’ve fallen without warning

been carried on a stretcher

to an ambulance more times

than i’ve ridden in one as caregiver

so, now when my head seems

to want to twirl or aching hurt

gathers between my eyes,

i am concerned another fall

could take me and i will once again

be unsure of me