Poem: Tai Chi In The Park

I stand
In the park
Bare-chested.
I breathe
Just breathe.
Then I move
Loosen my body
Slowly but surely
Until it is time.
I do my routines
My drills
Four variants in all.
Bare-handed routines
Saber and sword routines
The basics
Remain the same.
Sweat covers me.
My heart beats fast.
My breath quickens.
My body is pushed
To its utter limit
Yet meets the challenge
All the same.
My mind is utterly focused
On the moment
No room for anything else.
The life force flows through me.
I am one with the Spirit.
This is Tai Chi
For me.
This is my prayer
My communion
With the divine.
My reason
To be and to live.