I bend to tie a lacing loose

I bend to tie a lacing loose,

a sudden jab breaks cold and truce.

The joint protests with cracked complaint,

a harsh reminder, old and faint.

Skin stretched tight where scars once set,

memories held in bruised vignette.

A creak, a sting, the aching calls,

a whispered pain that softly sprawls.

I pause, withdraw my hand unsure,

knee’s murmur—raw and insecure.

It speaks in pain, it speaks in wait,

a fragile edge of fractured fate.