Sitting atop an unfinished rooftop of a house, precarious, nervous, unsure. Inexplicable, turbulent stillness veering on sadness. Hammer in hand, momentous task at hand.
Attempt 1: failure.
Attempt 2: failure.
Attempt 3: lucky.
Attempt 50: thunk, thunk, thunk, ouch! Not so lucky.
Attempt 67: failure.
Attempt 51-150: dejection and frustrated perseverance, failure.
Attempt 151- 160: silent appeal to god.
Attempt 161: detachment from outcome, correct effort.
Attempt 160-220: not much success but true perseverance.
Attempt 221-240: less frustration, deepening stillness.
Attempt 221: break.
Standing shakily on firm ground with legs weary from holding on. Listening to the story of the future homeowner, my legs her story. New Orleans, upheaval, education. My life is a cliff to her levee.
High school senior and a pneumatic staple gun. College junior and a tape measure. A wish for more self-confidence.
Atop the roof again. A need to help. Admiration for everyone, admiration for him. Turn around and he’s there, on top of this creation, triumphant. Lunch.
His presence, reaffirming. Turbulent stillness calming to silent stillness. Pizza: yummy.
Earth, brown and humid underfoot, the new seedlings unfazed by cold, bleak Night. Shoveling to my own erratic rhythm. Calm, peaceful stillness. Companionship.
Pumpkin pie. Paper, pencil and possibilities. Pensive ponderance. Perfection.
No comments:
Post a Comment