I was trying to have a nice day
Took the dogs for a walk in the yellow-orange woods at lunch time
Made weekend plans with a friend
Went to the poetry reading
Pulled bright green chard and shining purple carrots from the farmer's paper bag
Chopped the vegetables for a curry while the onions simmered
Put on a Patti Smith record
I was three and a half songs in and starting to feel a little okay
I knew before I answered
My Dad is in the hospital again
I know how hard it is to be the voice of hope in the face of someone else's unrelenting despair
For so many years I was the hope
Now I am the despair
