It took three trips to fall right in
Left foot, then right, then left again
Wounded gait and crooked toes
Clumsy legs and heavy woes
Offhand turns and firsthand tastes
Of salt and asphalt, love and hate
Tipping toes and stomping ground
Treading path and falling down
Souls that slip on sheets like ice
Sidewalk cracks and curbside fights
A coordinated swift descent
Entangled limbs on hard cement
But you will never stand as tall
As standing up after you fall
And fall you must to understand
The ins and outs of how to stand
So fall in love and fall behind
Out of love and into line
To the ground or to your knees
Clasping hands of prayer or plea
Off of feet and into arms
And hope the first time proves the charm