A MOVING EXPERIENCE

by 
Gwen Austin

Copyright 1999

Groaning and moaning,
he struggled to lift his leg.
He grit his teeth and grimaced.
As he concentrated, up it rose-
six inches off the mat.

His pallor grayed.
"Owww!" raged his brain.
As he lay panting, he prayed,
"Stop the pain."

"Bend that knee
to a seventy degree.
Now hold," 
the therapist cajoled.

"Straighten it flat
to a zero degree."
He pushed and strained,
therefore, he gained
more flexibility.

"Yes," said he,
"my total replacement knee
IS
worth all this agony."