Careful
Crutches can become cages
Time passes
We lean and lean
We forget
Where we end and the crutches begin
Forget the viable strength of our own legs
We grow fearful of falling
We think we need to be held up
Look
carefully
Maybe these walls aren’t protecting you
Maybe instead of holding you up
they’re holding you back
blocking you from seeing
You are strong enough to stand
You can put the crutches down
You can take that first step
then the next
You may stumble
but you will not fall
Time passes
And you will learn
You can walk on your own after all


© 2025 Joan Zaruba. All rights reserved.