A Thank You Poem

I actually received this poem many months ago, but have not posted it until now. I just ran across it and was reminded of the generosity of a friend.

TRISH

by

Ellie Miller Greenberg

2/15/14

her  strength

is  remarkable

 

her determination

is rare

 

her  perseverance

has no limits

 

her courage

is the stuff of battlefields

 

she  rode her

beloved bike

down lookout mountain

eager to catch her companion matt

when a white car

hit her

 

it was

september  17, 2000

a sunny sunday

full of promise

on the brink

of  a new relationship

 

her body

was paralyzed

from the chest down

 

her recovery

at  craig hospital

was agonizing

 

when she swam

she sank

 

when she wheeled her chair

she bumped into things

 

 

her focus

was on racing  again

 

she  entered triathlons

with a handcycle

 

she  swam the backstroke

with a companion for sight

 

she covered hundreds

of miles

often in the dark

 

she traveled  the world

to enter  each race

 

she had  bachelors

and masters degrees

 

she was  a teacher

and a girlfriend

 

in a bike shop

she found steve

 

now married

with  handcycle

she works and lives

 

her  strength

is remarkable

 

her determination

is rare

 

her perseverance

has no limits

 

her courage

is the stuff of battlefields

 

I never knew anyone

like her

 

she is unique

in my life

 

and I cannot

imagine

what it has been like

for her

to create

a new life

 

paralyzed

from the chest down

yet living life

with  zest and passion

speaking and writing

working and loving

moving with  confidence

articulating her story

traveling and racing

winning and conquering

 

after I finished

her book

cycle of  hope

I fell asleep

and awoke an hour later

 

it was

four in the morning

about the time

she  got up

to prepare

for  the triathlon

 

I shook my head

incredulously

 

how could someone

endure so much

 

my admiration for

trish downing

is never ending

 

she is

the most remarkable person

I have ever known.