Reminder

It is early morning in early fall
It is cool now, but the day will be warm
The sky is clear, and I see the moon
As I walk to work, I touch a feeling
That I have not felt in a long time.

I remembered other times
When once I thought I felt connected
A kinship with my friends
A bond of affection with all living things
A yearning for simplicity
A tentative letting go.

Of late I have been hanging on so tightly
I work for myself now
I hold myself to a strict regimen
I have found success
In many ways I have grown.

But this morning’s feeling was a reminder
I need some quiet spaces in my busy life
Some intervals where I do not seek
A confidence that I do not need all my strength
To feed my mind and body
But have also the capacity
To care for my soul.