Flipping, Twisting, Turning

Flipping, twisting, turning My heart is yearning The gentleness of the gritty, blue floor Fingernails grinding across chalk, I grew to abhor Soaring through the air Knotting my hair Landing perfectly the most difficult skill The brief dizziness and instant thrill I could not live without But my body disagrees The buckling pain in my knees The screeching wave once I dismount Is nearly impossible to surmount But I push on Gymnastics, don’t leave me now What would I do without? I would be without identity You are me