Jamieson Wolf
Number-one bestselling author
Life is a Journey – A Poem
Excuse me?
I looked up.
It was a
man that I
recognized, but I
didn’t know from
where. It must
have shown on
my face. I’ve
never been good
at hiding things
within my skin.
You probably don’t remember me. I saw you walking down the sidewalk with your cane during the summer. I said we were both Children of the Sphinx.
As soon as
he said that,
I did remember.
The riddle of
the Sphinx ran
through my head:
What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, three legs in the evening?
I said. His
eyes widened and
he smiled at
me, clapping a
hand to my
arm in joy.
You do remember! And look at you now! Walking without your third leg! How did you do that?
I thought about
how to answer
him, how to
encompass everything I’d
been through to
get where I
am. In the
end, I just
shrugged my shoulders.
He put his
hand on my
arm again and
left it there.
It’s okay, you don’t need to say anything. Life doesn’t often work out the way we think it will. Life doesn’t go as we plan it or dream it when we’re young.
I nodded. He
had summed up
everything I had
been thinking. I
looked at him,
really took him
in, his kind
eyes, warm smile
and his right
hand, holding a
long wooden cane.
No, it doesn’t. Mine certainly hasn’t.
He looked at
me, taking me
in this time.
He nodded his
head, looked at
me with wise
and open eyes.
Can I ask you something? You have the look of someone who’s been on a journey. You have, haven’t you?
I nodded again,
unable to say
anything. I was
normally not at
a loss for
words, but this
man’s ability to
see right into
me silenced them.
Then I want you to do something for me. Every time you start to slide back, I want you to take a stop on the path your on and look back at how far you’ve come. Will you do that.
I said softly.
Yes, I will.
Good.
He said, giving
me a smile.
Just remember, You’re life may have not gone as planned, but that’s okay. It’s all a journey. All of it.
He hugged me
then with one
arm, the other
one still down,
holding the cane.
I hugged him
back with both
arms, trying to
communicate everything that
I hadn’t said.
You take care of yourself now. Okay?
He walked away
down the sidewalk
With the sun
shining behind him,
his shadow looked
as if he
didn’t have a
cane in his
grasp and seemed
to stretch until
it was as
tall as the
Sphinx.
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Jamieson Wolf has written a compelling story about navigating multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. His story will touch your heart, make you cry, then laugh, and inspire you. A touching memoir with a bit of magic…and tarot! ~ Theresa Reed, author of The Tarot Coloring Book
Jamieson Wolf 