She danced into my life
thumbing her nose
at Suffering
riding into her body
on a polio microbe
and a careening school bus
breaking her spine
but not her spirit.

I'd avoided her work
too bloody painful
for my North American fancy.

But…

I saw Frida today.
She walked
with Diego
shared passion
for each other
painting
the unseen
the dispossessed.

Viva Frida!

I walked today
in a nature preserve
saw it with Frida eyes
breathed in the fall
enjoyed my legs and feet
felt old aching muscles moving
glad to be alive.

I walked today.

Viva Frida!