Unprepared

As the days and weeks go on

As weeks turn to months 

And months to years

They turn more and more precious

As we see the loved ones around us pass 

    Pass by

             Pass over

                       Pass on to the other side

As we watch loved ones move

     from longing 

         to joy 

               to grief 

                         and back again

A priceless acceptance settles

         A peace in the waiting

                                    the wonder

                                                the pain

                     A peace in the struggle

No longer do we wow so easily

     nor alarm so quickly

We know what it means to just believe that it will somehow work out and be okay 

        Even when it is not

                  Especially when it is not

We know what it means to simply last through the struggle 

        moving calmly and certainly forward

And we know how to out love too

    Out love the disappointment

        Out love regret

            Out love malice and slander

We could write volumes on letting go
And still not have matured into the art of it ourselves
For its fullness is complete only in death

The ultimate test of letting go of

   this body

        this place

                and this life

Though we practice it hundreds of times

In micro-moments

        still we are unprepared

LA 27 April 2023