I rest and wrestle

within the wide line I’ve scrolled in the sand

this sacred space

the reminder

to every purpose under heaven

there is a season.

While in the between

of what was and will be

I savor

what I want to remember:

the deep magic of learning

the loud silence of understanding

the way they look at you when the connection is made

the friendships forged

the glances across the room, the hall

that scream I see you

I know you

I’m laughing and hurting with you

the connection of caring deeply deeply deeply

and sometimes giving up

until minute 21

when we begin to notice, and name, and claim these good bones

because we know

we can make this place beautiful

the goodness that abides

the “thank yous” when they exit the room

the sweet treats proffered and shared

the hugs wrapped around fierce tenderness

the watercolor retelling of Odysseus on his journey home

the light, the love, streaming in from the east with Juliet the sun

the belief that there is a book for every reader

and that reading will save us

the earth turned truth of memoir

the power of poetry

the mathematics of grammar

that taking time to laugh together

to take a walk together

to blow off the work together

is sometimes the most important work we do

to recognize

you

and all this time together was gold

and to resound,

what can anyone give us greater than now

this liminal light

starting here, right in this room

when you turn around?