I Have Learned 5 Things

1. The sulfurous flame 
            sunbeams in corners 
                        lightning like cracked glass 
                                    the bulb of an idea 
                                                your dark eyes 
all 
have one source. 

2. Pain is truer than people 
            truer than a full plate 
            truer than God. 

3. Joy is a suitcase 
packed with everyday things 
no beaded gowns, no hats 
no umbrella 
just pajamas, a toothbrush, sneakers. 
If it rains 
stand there 
soak up every drop 
like applause. 

4. I have learned that I want less: 
            the sound of lake water lapping 
            tadpoles listless in sun-heated shallows 
            wispy grass, knobby reeds 
            greeting me, my name 
            caught in their raspy throats 
            one or two clouds 
            and a bird, maybe, 
            if it doesn’t sing.

5. Old age is where you started, 
a child 
looking up at the light 
                        at jumbled faces 
                        at mouths whispering, “there, now, 
go back to sleep.”