A leap and a double back-flip,
Then a handstand and a shake of the hip--
With grace and poise the gymnast performed
Her balance-beam routine.

She lowers to the narrow beam,
And as she moves it does not seem
To casual observers and weekend spectators,
That she must exert much effort.

The beam appears suddenly much wider,
And she seems to shrink and become lighter,
Sch is the illusion presented to onlookers
Who are awed b her great skill.

Yet the balance beam itself is no less
Narrow, though she will confess,
That it seems easier only because of training:
She's worked very hard for this.

She once had scarce a trace
Of natural talents, balance, and grace,
Nor did she posses poise and flexibility--
She devoted much time to acquiring these.

She could not reach this level alone--
Her trainer long labored to help her hone
Her skills into this ability, this agility:
She needed only to cooperate with him to learn.

Countless hours she has devoted,
And certain habits slowly promoted,
She's sacrificed and struggled and patiently suffered
To become this graceful gymnast.

Her path to this destiny--
It was for her a lifelong journey--
Has always been a road
Both straight and narrow.