Tamara Willems

reporting for duty…

Reporting for duty, Sir

Days when I am most
bothered
by that middle-aged
softer
around the centre bit
those nasty extra pounds that suddenly
appear
unwanted, and
unannounced

until you should attempt to
try on some clothes
(suitable for leaving the house)
and find, very little
that
fits

now, I will say, middle-aged
if that might even
be an accurate descriptor
as I am ever so fast
approaching sixty-

one

that’s not middle, is it

happens to the best of us, isn’t that
some kind of saying

early mornings this week, I look up at the beautiful
crescent moon, where it hangs
in a still dark sky
on Tuesday, Saturn shining right above it
in the afternoon, I gather a large praying mantis
in my hands
rescue him from the trappings of a hot greenhouse
set him
free
on Thursday I marvel as now,
that moon
is merely a sliver
hanging quite low, the shadow of it’s fullness
shading in
the
round

today is beautiful
blue skies and sunshine
and all colour
something to be said for October days

on my walk downtown
while I am
waiting for the light
a truck across the street, a workman with the
electrical box open
the police officer in the car beside me, gets out
she is just lovely, and she says to me
“You can cross,
the lights won’t be working for a few minutes,
here’s where I come in…”

I smile and thank her for her kindness,
then I say, “Good luck
and good wishes”

as she moves to the centre of the busy intersection
to direct

in this brief exchange, I have not noticed
her age, or her
shape
I have noticed the friendliness in her smile
and the kindness she has
shown

this lovely smiling face carries me the rest of the way

do take some time in your day
to notice the beautiful things
not the
political things, not the
outrageous things, not the dis-
graceful
things

notice
the joyful things

and wherever you might be
in this day
I hope that you
are met

with kindness ♥

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