Body

Every so often I’m reminded
  of the fact that I have a body.

Today, it hurts.
It’s my own damn fault –
  dashing through forest
  up and down hills
  over roots and mud
  for over two hours
  will do that to a body.

And I relish the feeling.
Not because I enjoy pain,
  but because it means I’m still here
  and I get to inhabit this miraculous form
    that can smell peace in the spruce trees
    see joy in ripples on the streams
and I get to test
  what else it can achieve and endure.

Last fall, I ran my age in kilometres.
(a marathon plus a decade, if you must know)
Next month, I’ll try to exceed that,
  just to see if I can.
It will hurt -- and I will survive.

Some day, this body will die –
  if I’m lucky, through old age,
  if not, maybe through disease or violence –
I didn’t get the memo about when or how.
All I know is
  I will continue to explore
  all that it is capable
  of doing and experiencing
  and I refuse to surrender
  this precious gift to neglect.