all that i am

so grateful
for a mindless
long
physical day
at work
moved almost every piece of shelving and furniture in the place
tomorrow will finish moving every last piece!?!?
which also means emptying each and every shelf
of every single tantalizing little item
vacuuming, wiping, and then re-merchandising
exhausted at mass, and at lowe's afterwards
grumpy, tired, achy
ate a bite with my poor hon who has to live with me!
and excused myself to go lie down
on my favorite front porch swing
looking for soothing in the swaying
perhaps a little nap to get me through until time for bed
but instead
the cool of evening
the golden glow of the day drawing to its close
the sound of a song in my head
escapes my mouth
and I kneel as I begin to weed

pulling the incessant morning glory
from our little sidewalk garden
as I have done

as otheres have done
for almost ten years now
yanking mercilessly
where it wraps around bushes
sitting and delicately unwinding
where it whirls and twirls around
tender pointed allium heads

releasing its clutches from the white rose
trimmed back just this very weekend for the altar
careful not to destroy the leaves and tight green buds
of the knee high daisies yet to bloom
carefully unthreading its hold on the tiniest of clusters of hydrangea still to come

to work
to weed
to sing

Lord of All Hopefulness
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

such a blessing disguised
stepping back
to see what's been accomplished
to feel exhausted and depleted
but to know the reason why

and then to come in and have a bowl of 'somoa' ice cream
brought to me on the sofa by that wonderful hon
so ready for this day to end
to pull the quilt back out of the closet and place it on our bed
on this
s'wonderful
s'marvelous
s'perfect
night
for sleeping