When I Was Me

[Joker Obama Girl]

When I Was Me

Once I knew how it felt to sweat every day,
From vigorous labor and virile play,
But my bones have been broken,
And my flesh has become rotten.
The golden promise of a young man,
Has been torn from my crippled hands,
For as I turned my head in distraction,
Everything I was and dreamed died.

How could I have known how precious it was,
When it was all that I had ever known.
Now I can only bend my sore and crippled neck,
And dream of dreaming and running and dreaming.
Every rock and hill and tree and river was a challenge,
Goading me and inviting me to conquer it.
Every defeat was only motivation to try harder,
And every victory was an open door to another challenge.

Oh God! If only I had my health and youth again!
I would run faster, and punch harder, and jump higher!
I would read more, and write more, and study more!
I would love deeper, and forgive all, and be kinder!
I would be braver, and fight harder, and never compromise!
If only I had my health and youth again,
I would be me…only more.