The Epitome of Patience - June 16, 2026

I could just add a cane

to my grandfatherly gait

as I slide one foot cautiously

in front of the other, stop

every few, look back,

then ahead for the next set

of go’s and stops

I’m trying to embody

the epitome of patience

and match the morning

walk of our eighteen-year-

old dog, Gracie, no hurry

nowhere to be, sniffing

the news from every bush,

the gossip of each tree

the rumors in every stone,

inhaling seconds

from the minutes

of the days left