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Ode to the Plantar Fascia
Latin cousin to Achilles,
architectural upholder
bearing its magisterial bundle
beneath an imperial arch,
rods around axe
around
axle and axis,
staunch stanchion of the canonical self,
aquiline and august,
tensile, earthly, planted
and wound in sinewed plaits,
inverted hammock
on which the body rests its burden
like a red faced tourist
in the shadow
of a coconut palm,
only now is your grievance
made known to me,
and my dignity is hobbled,
only now do I hear your cry,
unenviable membrane,
faithful attendant upon my every stride,
tender sole, antipodal to the soul,
pale mirror to the palm
of this hand
only now do I honor your service,
only now do I learn to address you by name,
and the Empire
trembles.
