I have legs that work
and eyes that see
I can feed myself
and bathe myself
Marco can't
he can't talk
or walk
or speak
his hands are clasped together
tightly
they rarely separate
He is handsome
he could have been
a ladies man
sometimes, I think he is
anyway
He speaks with his eyes
and sometimes with a gutteral sound
which is harsh and yet pleasant
I think we are the same age
Once a week
I travel to his treatment center
and walk to his room
his eyes light up
Mr. Plock would be jealous
if he saw those eyes
We wheel his chair down
the hall to the gym
We have a class of eight
I can tell he is happy
Sometimes he tries to talk
That is absolute bliss
for me
I don't let on
I say, "Pipe down, Marco!
I'm trying to teach here!"
He laughs
I love to make him laugh
Then he closes his eyes and relaxes
He does that on purpose
so I'll say, "Were you out
dancing with your girlfriend
again last night?"
I poke him gently
in the arm
He smiles again and closes his eyes
This is the dance we do together
I move my chair closer to him
Telling the class,
"I have to keep Marco awake!"
I think, if he could reach out
he would
I can see it in his eyes
When the music plays and
all eight of us are dancing
it feels like time has stopped
and then our hour is over
I am thankful for that hour
every week
and time starts
again.......................
