Mobility Training by David Jibson

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December 30, 2015 by northerncardinalreview

The tip of her white cane weaves back and forth
sniffing at the sidewalk in front of her
like the nose of an excited beagle.

She stays close to the buildings on her left,
testing for the cliff edge of the world,
hoping not to drop off.

I watch her fall half a block
behind two other trainees
who seem to have more confidence.

She comes to a stop, still twelve feet
from the intersection at Main and Liberty.
Then, turning her best ear

through each cardinal point
of an imaginary compass,
she listens, her face a quiz.

She inches her way to the curb with baby steps,
until she comes to a river of traffic
in which she could easily drown.

—

David Jibson lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is an associate editor of poetry for the independent print lit. journal, Third Wednesday and a member of The Crazy Wisdom Poetry Circle. His work has appeared in Third Wednesday, Brasilia Review, Waccamaw Journal, Peninsula Poets, A-Literation and Highland Park Poetry.

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