The Patient

He was a patient
In a long term
Care facility
For the severely
Handicapped,
And though
He was confined
To an electric
Wheel chair
The entirety of his life,
He didn’t let that
Hinder him,
Or stop him
From taking on
The world
On his own terms.
Maybe he couldn’t
Do a lot of things
Normal people
Take for granted,
Like dressing himself,
But he could
Motor down to
A nearby Taco Bell,
And that was
An adventure
On a comparative scale.
He was better off
Than most of
The other patients,
But what set him apart
Was his hardy
Good cheer
And his warm
Exuberant way
Of introducing himself.
He took obvious pleasure
In shaking our hands
And showing us around.
He had every reason
To be disgruntled
With his lot in life,
But you would never
Hear him complain.
He was simply
Ecstatic to be alive.