Take All the Time You Need

My Gourmet Poets Society meets this weekend; some of us meeting in person, masked, outdoors in the garden. Some joining by Zoom. 

In the process of de-cluttering, which seems a requirement when retiring, I came upon this poem I had written years ago while cleaning the house for another gathering of GPS. Taking the time you need is also one of the deep requirements of retirement; so very grateful that this is so.

TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED

By Linda Graham

The house didn’t get cleaned

Because the camellias were blooming

And my soul took all the time it needed

To honor their flowering.

The house didn’t get cleaned

Because the sun burned away the storm clouds at last

And my body took all the time it needed

To bask in the warmth and rejoice.

The house didn’t get cleaned

Because one friend turned 50

And another friend fractured her pelvis

And another friend spontaneously 

Showed up for sushi

And two more friends got married.

[read more….]

Our hearts took all the time we needed for 

Food and fun and laughter.

Being together in Sabbath time more important

Than sweeping the dust bunnies.

The house didn’t get cleaned,

And so when friends came over tonight,

We filled the house with soup and salad,

Love and light, poetry and music

Tears and laughter.

And our deepest selves

Took all the time we needed

To hold and cherish one another

In the house filled with dust bunnies

And comfort and love.