I Will Exercise Every Day

I will exericse my right
to feel human,
to be C__
and not Ms. G___.

I will exercise my ability
to move;
I will move my body, yes,
and I will move the
minds of my students,
hearts of my readers.

I will exercise my freedom
to sleep,
to sleep thoroughly and deeply
and, on weekends, long.

I will exercise the freedom
of speech,
my right to opine and whine,
to declare offense
and common sense.

(Didn't you resolve to swear less?"
a colleague asks.
No, I will exercise my right
not to make certain resolutions,
my freedom to retain
certain vices and
focus on others.
Therefore, I will
exercise my ability,
however unwise,
to say "f*ck.")

I will exercise my attitude,
give the old bitch a workout;
and I will exercise
my muscles of humility.
I will exercise the
ironic beauty of paradox.

Yes, in this new year,
I will exercise every day.

Midwestern Snow, Dec. 27