These are the days of redefining care
And our capacity for it. Letting events
Unfold, watching our own responses
And how different they’ve become
From what used to be our old selves.
 
Strangers affect us. Their lives and their
Sudden passing away brings on a grief
We are not accustomed to. We do
Little things, and care insanely about
How well they turn out. We look around
Everywhere, for an elusive companionship. 

Something or someone always seems
To miss the point. Usually that’s us. 
We pick ourselves up, every day. 
We start things, lose ourselves 
In distraction. Only to find echoes
Of the day’s events in our dreams. 

We are all a little more fragile. 
But also more aware of it than before. 
We are constantly wounded by love,
And our capacity for it. 
But we will row this boat ashore
And will have the arms to show for it.