Packing

Day 57

Noah had plenty of warning, time enough to build and collect exactly what he needed.

The Buddha knowingly took nothing.

Frodo thought he had Gandalf and that would be enough.

Had I known this was coming

What would I have gathered?

What would I have taken a moment to care for, to notice,

To wrap tenderly for this journey?

Could I have picked the right books to grace my shelves and feed my soul?

Which people would I have met for coffee, or even hugged?

Could I have harvested their presence and saved it for today?

Would it have made any difference?

Had I known this was coming,

I would have done things differently.

I would have meandered in and out of the shops on Pearl Street

Taking care to hold the door

and witness ordinary life flow around me.

I would have loaded up my ams with books

About beauty, about quiet creativity

About romance and tender love.

I would have bought four more journals,

And a big sack of bread flour.

Although it wouldn’t have made any difference.