Saved By It

I only give myself
ten minutes

timed

to curl up under
the covers
wipe my nose
swipe at tears
before the timer
goes off
putting a stop
to indulgent grief
that if left to itself
has enough
momentum to
snowball
uphill.

Kathleen Norris
reminds me how
acedia and ennui
can be disarmed by
quotidian mysteries.
I'm grateful for clean
warm towels to fold
and hot sudsy dish
water.