Throwing off all this adulthood
Feels reckless
And who knew
Windows down
Radio up
A tank top on
And shoes off would allow
Summer to lick all this skin
Liberate all these senses
Back to
All wide open
Being here
Makes way
For remembering
And looking forward
It lasted what, maybe 15 seconds?
Those four times at the toll booths today.
In the scope of eternity
That’s not much
(If you’re counting time).
So not to make too much of it,
But the attendants’ calm, cool, professional collectedness
– and most of all the smile and the eye contact at the end –
And an unexpected stability crept in my car,
Sidled comfortably into my psyche.
Men and women fulfilling their role, in their place,
– temporary or not –
In those well done isolated moments
Helped catalyze
A centering solidarity
A happy empowering awareness
Of folks.
Folks working their shifts
Capably, willingly,
Wholeheartedly
Profoundly inspired me – in reminding me – to well-work my own.
Such a sturdy this-sphere’s-intact-and-life’s-going-forward posture
Set me better on my way.
Thanks for your part in paying it forward,
Whoever you are.
Oh how I love you.
And so very wildly surprised
(And delighted) at how
Motherhood spins all these
Invisible threads that
Palpably
Bind me to you.
Hoping this solidarity’s (desperation) will
Defy time and space,
Carry over, blanket you in all things needed.
Hoping these while-you’re-away prayers
Are reaching the throne of heaven.
Hoping that somehow
My love for you is an offering;
That these frantic hopes please Him and
See you protected and good-showered
– help to defeat all that would harm or steal.
My darlings,
I pine for your return:
But I celebrate your going
As I try to bravely (not cut)
Stretch the cord enough that you feel free
But still fully supported.
That you feel free to go
And (always) free to come back, to be, to bound to me.
Not stifled, not held back,
But wholly loved that you’re filled full up,
Ready in turn to fully live, fully love.
Be free, my darlings.
Be open, be wise, be strong, be kind.
Be impervious to evil’s wiles.
Be engaged in love’s beauteous play,
Life’s glorious possibilities.
As you’re away,
Be.
And know that I am grateful that you are (at least little bit) mine.
Be you…
And most of all,
Be His.
wordskeepmesane 