Retired Contortionist

I am a retired contortionist.

It’s not that I have no spine, in fact, I find my backbone is stronger than most.

It is more so that my spine has an extraordinary ability to bend in unusual ways.

There’s a difference between conforming to the ways of others,

bowing forward or bending backward to fit because you need to.

I am a contortionist, not a doormat, nor a chameleon.

I possess the unique ability to fit into abnormal places.

It is actually a skill called, “Enter-ology”

I control how far the bending goes.

I’ve only broken my spine once.

It was an injury I thought I’d never recover from.

I couldn’t stand for nearly a year, but I did come back.

I healed and came back stronger than ever;

bending frontward as well as backward.

It’s a marvel to see.

To watch someone like me flex in a way that

makes things smooth and beautiful.

But I am retiring. I’m getting older and finding that

while my backbone is stronger than ever

I’m just not able to bend in ways I once did.

Something that once was much like a freakish super power

has now become my kryptonite.

My own poisonous downfall.

For if I continue to bend

and force my spine to flex when it shouldn’t

I will no longer be a retired contortionist

I will be putty. I will be dysfunctional.

My ability to bend has come to an end

And I am a retired contortionist.