I know what I can’t do.
I cannot stop a train wreck.
I cannot stop a drunk from drinking.
I cannot stop the earth and I do not want to get off.
I cannot stop worrying about my son, no matter his age.
I cannot stop loving my husband — I don’t know where it began.
I cannot stop seeing beauty everywhere I look.
I cannot become the person you think I’m supposed to be.
I cannot become a person who believes in goodness.
I cannot become a person whose fear becomes hate.
I cannot become a person untouched by disease.
I cannot become a person who says: this faith is the faith.
I cannot stop the girl with the pink guitar from living on the streets.
I cannot give her enough money to feed her addictions.
I did give her the pint of ice cream I bought for whatever reason one buys ice-cream at ten o’clock on a Monday night.
I did give it without hesitation — knowing and not knowing
there but for the grace of god, go I.
