I stopped to do the dishes
and suddenly knew I was powerless

I wiped up and cleaned up
and stood back for a second or two
and said six years ago
I would not have said that
Two years ago
I would not have said that
Two years ago
I would not have had the authority
or the grace to ask

There are sparrows outside
who know more than I do
about living their lives
with little fanfare
or thought of relapse
Eating or drinking allowed
Peace from hatch to falling gone
to the ground

I come back from the window
to what is left
Suddenly knew I was powerless
again

After the dishes are done
Fill the paper towel dispenser
and add toilet paper to the supplies

Six years ago
or six months ago
I would not have known the sparrows
and how they fill their space
with nothing except their living
without thought
or so I think

Six seconds ago
I stood in the center of the room
Envied the sparrows
Shrugged at them and moved on
without a thought except
mourning the power lost

then shrugging that off too
I ceased envying the sparrows
for six seconds
no more
no less

then began again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
onward,
T