We Manage Most When We Manage Small
What things are steadfast? Not the birds. Not the bride and groom who hurry in their brevity to reach one another. The stars do not blow away as we do. The heavenly things ignite and freeze. But not as my hair falls before you. Fragile and momentary, we continue. Fearing madness in all things huge and their requiring. Managing as thin light on water. Managing only greetings and farewells. We love a little, as the mice huddle, as the goat leans against my hand. As the lovers quickening, riding time. Making safety in the moment. This touching home goes far. This fishing in the air.
Credit
From All of It Singing. Copyright © 2008 by Linda Gregg. Used with permission of Graywolf Press.
Author
Linda Gregg

Born in 1942, Linda Gregg was the author of several collections of poetry, including All of It Singing: New and Selected Poems (Graywolf Press, 2008), which received the 2009 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize.
Date Published: 2008-01-01
Source URL: https://poets.org/poem/we-manage-most-when-we-manage-small