In Praise of Proprioception

proprio- from Lat. proprius, one's own; -ception as in perception

The body's own
perception of itself,
its contours and extent
within the space around it:

Body's unconscious thought,
automatic calculation,
guiding it around and through
what rises before it,

showing its hand
the way to its mouth,
allowing the stride,
the luxuriant stretch—

body's self-sense, letting
one stand beside another,
hair's breadth between them,
not touching, then touching—

when that sixth sense goes,
spinal cord's sheathing frayed,
we stagger, flail,
fall as if drunk.

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