The Line Break

It is a time of seasonal overwhelm–the light growing shorter and days chiller, the end of semester and final grades nearing, the holidays approaching–and we each balance and navigate our different caregiving responsibilities while trying to also, somehow, care for ourselves.

I think of the below, beautiful poem by the late poet Linda Gregg at times like these. Inspired by Gregg’s title, I would like to recommend that you try your hand at writing a small piece of writing this week, sometimes called micro, or flash, or simply a short form (or small poem). For a poem, keep it under ten lines, or several sentences if a prose poem. See what you can do inside a small space; see how you can manage most when you manage small; see how generous a space a small form can be.

And now for Linda Gregg:

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.