The only way to have perfect legs

The only way to have perfect legs is to be a baby

soft with fresh energy coursing invisible veins

and short enough that everything around you is big and new

 still to be discovered

still to be delighted in and trampled through.

The only way to have perfect legs is to become old

and to have run your race on the same two legs

long after the boredom and nothing longer sparkles

nor has it since...when?

long after running left your soul mud stained and trampled on

definition of muscle is the result of all you ran to

and from

and up against

and all you never gave up running for

even when your lungs burned hot and hard

the times running looked like crawling walking resting waiting

for the light on the corner of a decision to change

which changed you until you were

finally soft once more as your legs were at first, 

with blue red veins visible now

after all that they carried you through on the way to developing

your perfect legs

resting tired

below your head and lower

than your heart.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  

Hebrews 12:1, 2

(This poem was inspired by a picture I took of my baby boy's almost 17 month old legs as he stood on his tippy toes to be closer to the music.)