Halt

Stop the action

Freeze frame

Put everything on pause

Unmask

Let the blade fall

Turn and catch your breath while

Someone who’s supposed to be in 

Charge attempts to

Parse the action

Map what the hell just

Happened here and

Make the call

Don’t look at me, I’m

As mystified as you...

As all who spectate in this 

Strange exchange

However, I suspect that

It may be some time before 

We’re placed back en garde

Laundry

With a bit of care and

Prompt attention maybe

I won’t stink

Working at the stains of

Messy practice

Blood and sweat

--A smear of chocolate--

Perhaps I can

Clean up my act

If nothing else a

Bracing rinse of vinegar

A good brisk wash

Will yield a clean white slate

Tempting me to

Try again

A Baker's Valentine

Heart

            Heart

                        Heart

                                    Heart

Sharing almond softness

A jammy amplitude of love

Even those that do not

Quite work out 

Shattered fragments of affection

Still

            Taste

                        Sweet

Faith, Part 2

At the break

Beset, behind and 

Not sure what to do

You hand me water and your 

Best advice

Gnomic utterances 

Seemingly divorced from

What just happened on the piste

“Keep distance about one foot farther out”

“Weight on your back hip”

“Get in close and bounce”

Never clear directions for the touch

Nothing so distinct as “parry circle six riposte” or

“attack to her flank”

I see absolutely no path forward

Doing what you say

It’s about as promising as “run into that wall!” or

“Pet the cat!”

Or simply

“42!”

But being out of options I 

Shrug off doubt

Abandon rationality and

Try exactly what you say

And score the touch

To your delight

Offset by rue that

I look so surprised

Resolved

To sometimes

Let myself sleep late 
Linger under covers 
Pinned by cat

Skip the gym
And soak my aching
Bones instead

Break from bouts
Lay down the blade
And chat 

Eat a second slice of cake
Drink hot chocolate even if it
Doesn’t snow

Leave an item on the daily list 
Unchecked 
Maybe even two

Exercise a bit of 
self-compassion trusting that
the world won’t end