An inch, two, an inch, two
His steps are small
Shuffles really
The toe of each boot slides in front of its twin
Progress is slow, but he seems confident
One foot is a bit braver than the other
It reaches forward two inches a stride
Twice that of its brother
The sliding steps echo from the wall
He approaches one painful step at a time
An inch, two, an inch, two
The irregular rhythm is rapid, yet the progress is slow
His shoulders are stooped
His elbows locked
His arms swing in short strokes
Matching his small stride
His knuckles are swollen
Knobby, purple
Fingers crooked and frozen
Large veins weave through age spots on the back of his hands
He approaches one painful step at a time
An inch, two, an inch, two
The irregular rhythm becoming a drumbeat that never seems to end
His face is furrowed
Deep lines crease his cheeks
Canyons etched from skin of granite
Smaller lines frame wisdom in his eyes
The rhythm pauses
He slowly lifts one foot up a single tiny stair
More a misalignment of the brick than anything
Sinewy arm muscles pull his slight body up
New cracks form on his face
A weak smile breaks open
Sparkling eyes and a gold tooth
He’s proud of his accomplishment
He’s here… on his own
He moves away one painful step at a time
An inch, two, an inch, two
The irregular rhythm becoming something I will never forget
An old man in his last year
Making a simple trip to lunch
He’s proud and he has every right to be
His body might be frail
His balance weak
Still he hasn’t given up
I'm not sure I could do it
He’s a lot stronger than me
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Submission Name: Stronger Than Me
