To the Edge

The heat and the work

burned out all the pettiness —

There was nothing left

for being right or being wrong,

for being better or being worse,

for looking good or foolish.

there was nothing left

for irritation or disappointment,

hardly even anything left for thought

We recovered slowly

as the sun slowly relented,

and the bird song

which had been constant,

we started to notice again,

and gratitude started to flow in,

and affection,

and appreciation

for being in this together

and going out to the very edge

and holding hands

to make sure we would survive.

©Wendy Mulhern

May 31, 2016