Never Leave Home

for Cary

Be prepared.
Things will come along

to surprise you,
sure as the world.

513 feet below ground
the elevator may just stop

while the music plays on.
Never leave home

without an umbrella
and your rich inner life.

Memories of Mt. Hood
and the forsythia tree

in your grandmother’s
backyard. Absolutely

always bring with you
a heart full of things

to wonder about.
Enough to last

at least three days.

–February 8, 2018