Physical Therapy

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Momentarily                                                                 

disembodied                                                                 

floating                                                                 

through a hall                                                                

along the                                                                

walls of white                                                                 

and pediatric                                                                 

colors                                                                 
Pahn turns through a door into an expansive room of toys
gym apparatus                    medical devices
where he sees himself reclining         on a futon            
                and precipitates               into his body

comfortably                                 
    the cotton batting

                 beneath his bare skin
 
looking to the shelved

                 undersides of the counters
 
                 The nurses come and go     waiting     for

visitors                                                  
From work                                 
                    Egairia and Djuturna’s laughter

                                flows     into the room    gurgling

            and     surging
                     they follow                           offering

to the nurses 
                                           to help

Egairia
                       conscientious
                  and contained
                      kneels
               beside his thighs
                                     taking him in her hands
 
    Djuturna
                    smiling stands
        more timid
                               watching
 
                                       Egairia pulls back his skin
 
                                         holding him
                                   with unaccustomed care
                                         and he grows with the attention
wondering
                              where this absorption will lead him
 
               his engrossment
              becomes
                   unwieldy
                      leaning
             awkwardly about him
                  and Egairia
                   becomes uncertain
                      of her purpose

Unable to hold him                        
she rises smiling weakly

and recedes with Djuturna          

from the room

.

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