Community Center
Angelo’s yellow jacket lies neatly folded
In the worn, wooden cubby
A single banana lies resting on top
A familiar sight for 15 years
Same jacket, different banana
My places have steadily been demolished
These last 15 years
Victims to economy and bulldozers
Washed away by my own personal tsunami
Homes, schools
People
Everything is different
Except the welcoming arms of the automatic doors
As I enter my community centre
I stuff my bag into the neighbouring cubby
And smile at the familiar jacket
I tug my muggy gloves on and give them a sniff, wince
I become part of the collective musk.
I enter the labyrinth
My metal, blue vinyl-pewed church
And become numbed by the thump, thump, thump of
Trodding on the treadmill
Running rapidly to nowhere
Rebooting my frantic mind with movement and music
I trundle around,
Engaging in the rhythmic movement
Pushing and pulling and lifting
Creating microscopic tears in my muscles
Preparing my body to repair
Preparing for the real weights
Friends approach and smile
Many with the measured steps of deceptively delicate insects
As they make their way around the labyrinth
Supported by walkers, chairs, canes,
Human hands
Waging wars
Collectively delusional in our quest to gain control
Over body, mind and time
We walk the wheel
In our suburban sanctuary of incremental miracles
Nobody leaps out of their chairs or tosses their crutches
Yelling hallelujah
I lie on the blue plastic mat
Contemplate the fluorescent lights, suspended and swaying ever so slightly
Watch the silent ballet around me
Slightly out of synch with the soft intonations of Joni Mitchell in my ears
As I gather my bag from my cubby
I notice that the yellow jacket and banana are gone
I emerge from my
Community chrysalis
Hobbling but hopeful,
Knowing that I will be back