Another way

Pippi Longstocking is a guide.

She sits in the porch, welcoming and wise at the threshold.

Sometimes it feels like there's no choice.

I've been looking at decisions.

Does this make sense?

1

The daily, hourly choices hardly noticed, the turns that shape a day –

when I know it's better to do something else

before the light’s gone. Or let go into writing or making.

The woad leaves I chopped yesterday and played at dye.

It’s time to clear up, when the poem’s done.

2

The bigger tangles lurk

in the mind,

in the muscles,

wait for an opening.

3

A move to Bristol

began with a day trip

and ended with a life change.

The month’s retreat. In the last hour of the last night

I watched the full moon, knew what should happen,

then made it real in weeks.

Someone I love told me

we had to go, today,

and we went, today.

4

There’s a shift in my body –

no lists of pros and cons,

nothing sensible,

but it all makes sense.

I’ve been changed, of course,

life happens -

diagnoses, loves,

my son’s too-early death.

There are even choices in the face

of what’s Impossible to bear.

5

Discomfort, attention, shift,

when I let in the possible

there’s release.

Nothing to consider except how,

and maybe who might help.

6

Yesterday an unexpected shift arrived

between a meeting and a book

and it will stay

until it doesn’t.

Breathless.

Exhilarated almost.

Satisfied, and

ready to clear up.