like wild yarrow

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It’s easier to be kind
to yourself
If you decide
everything is practice
This is not an excuse
or a bypass
more a salve
like wild yarrow
on a small wound
In the woods
knowing the plants
is empowering
a sign of respect
earned like a badge
We should explore
ourselves this way
learning remedies
from great books
and listening to the wind
The challenge in Dostoevsky
is to find compassion
for your own mind
This morning
A little tension
I lost time
In the kitchen
reacting
and was down
to 50 minutes
for exercise before work
I began angrily
taking it out on my hands
against the floor
See, I like handstands
perhaps silly
for a man of 46 years
but try not to lose the plot
In a practice
each day is different
but you do the same thing
so I felt the frustration
and instead of using it
like venom
I applied practice
gently, like a salve
then drove to town
eating an apple
On a call at 2:30
I got some bad news
So again,
a gentle practice
this time without moving
a muscle
I felt
the power of repetition
Now it’s 3pm
one deer bobs
around the barn
I eat sardines on toast
Everything is practice
If you decide
to be kind