It’s not possible, I remind myself.
It’s not possible that these fine beings,
these expressions of elemental intelligence,
could crash in interaction with each other

My communication, and yours,
cannot implode, you cannot be annoyed
by the links I draw, my innocent
observations. And it’s not possible
for me to feel cut, dismissed, unheard.
These are not things I need to defend.
I don’t need to take you to task

I can be still and listen.
I can be still and let your innocence
rise in my thought like the climbing moon,
settle in my heart like dew.

©Wendy Mulhern
June 30, 2023