LESSONS by Pat Schneider

-

I have learned
that life goes on,
or doesn't.
That days are measured out
in tiny increments
as a woman in a kitchen
measures teaspoons
of cinnamon, vanilla,
or half a cup of sugar
into a bowl.

I have learned
that moments are as precious as nutmeg,
and it has occurred to me
that busy interruptions
are like tiny grain moths,
or mice.
They nibble, pee, and poop,
or make their little worms and webs
until you have to throw out the good stuff
with the bad.

It took two deaths
and coming close myself
for me to learn
that there is not an infinite supply
of good things in the pantry.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 12, 2008 at 8:04 PM

    The pantry
    feeds the world___
    and just now
    has enough
    to feed the world.
    It's time to feed
    the Holiday Food Bank.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RudeeNovember 12, 2008 at 9:12 PM

    How true this one is. I find it incredibly important to keep in touch with what means the most to me on a daily basis. We just never know when our precious commodity of time will run out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RudeeNovember 12, 2008 at 9:12 PM

    How true this one is. I find it incredibly important to keep in touch with what means the most to me on a daily basis. We just never know when our precious commodity of time will run out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. La FraméricaineNovember 13, 2008 at 8:36 AM

    Dearest Distracted,

    This is a particularly lovely and paradoxical notion for me:

    busy interruptions
    are like tiny grain moths,
    or mice.
    They nibble, pee, and poop,
    or make their little worms and webs
    until you have to throw out the good stuff
    with the bad.

    It seems to me that sometimes the most important events to be attended to are disguised as "busy interruptions" and that I could miss them if I wasn't already wise in the ways of life's tricky presentations.

    You are breaking my heart, as usual, but I would have it no other way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 14, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Ah, and baking powder is bitter but it makes things light...

    ReplyDelete

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Hey, thanks for your thoughts and your time:>)

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