Roots and Wings: A Ballad of Resilience
The world spun dizzy, a kaleidoscope of blues,
My grasp on balance, a fragile, fleeting ruse.
Building blocks toppled, stairs a treacherous climb,
A silent storm raged, trapped within my time.
Hemiparesis, a word that stole my breath,
A label whispered, a sentence like death.
My left side lagged, a hesitant, clumsy beat,
Mirrored movements, a struggle incomplete.
The world of words, a tangled, mocking script,
Letters danced wildly, a frustrating trip.
Dyslexia's shadow, a veil that wouldn't part,
"B" turned to "d," tearing my little heart.
Salty tears welled, a silent, choked-back sob,
Frustration gnawed, a voiceless, wanting throb.
But then, a hand, a beacon in the storm,
My mother's touch, a love that kept me warm.
She knelt beside me, eyes that held the sun,
Saw the world tilted, the battles I'd begun.
With gentle steps, she built a patient ground,
Where "different" wasn't lost, but could be found.
My father's voice, a lighthouse in the night,
He read me stories, chasing away the fright.
Of flawed heroes, who faced their darkest fears,
Of soaring eagles, conquering their tears.
He spoke of wings, though mine wouldn't take flight,
But of a spirit reaching for the light.
Education, a torch we'd fiercely hold,
To chase away the shadows, make my story told.
Books became my castle, stories my escape,
Of characters who walked a lonely path, and braved the shape
Of futures uncertain, doubts that filled the air,
Yet, with a mind that dared to dream and dare.
Hours bled into days, a relentless fight,
Tracing letters, shaky lines in the fading light.
My tongue, a warrior, battling every sound,
Muscle memory, a victory hard-fought, hard-found.
The world still tilted, but I clung to the ground,
A newfound strength in my wobbly steps I found.
The scrambled words began to make their sense,
Unraveling meaning, a newfound confidence.
The "b" and "d" no longer held me down,
My mind, a garden, fertile, rich, and brown.
Hemiparesis, a fading, distant hum,
A whisper of the past, where I'd once become
Lost in the shadows. Now, with roots so deep,
Love's unwavering embrace helped my spirit leap.
Wings of knowledge, crafted with each page,
Lifted me slowly, turning fear to rage.
A rage to conquer, to defy, to win,
This battle etched within, a fight from deep within.
Though different, yes, I'd stand with head held high,
A girl with wings, determined to touch the sky.
The path is long, with stumbles yet to come,
But with each triumph, a stronger heart will hum.
For in the face of struggle, resilience I've found,
A melody of courage, a victory's joyful sound.
So let the tears fall, a cleansing, purging rain,
Washing away the doubts, the whispers of disdain.
For I am more than a diagnosis, a label cold,
I am a warrior, a story yet to unfold.
With every step, a testament to love's embrace,
A testament to the spirit that will never erase.
The dreams I hold, the battles I will fight,
A girl with wings, who takes to the light.
