I’ve been in charge of home and office most
my life, forever skirting boundaries
and splicing lines. I contemplate a host
of questions in proportions and degrees.
Then suddenly a child’s spouse is felled,
propelling me to cast my cares aside.

My friends said they were proud of me. They held
that what I did was hard, but I replied:

It didn’t feel like sacrifice to me,
to drop the usual and book that flight.
This dreadful medical emergency
shot shades of daily gray to black and white.
There is no haze. My path is clearly lit.
This time I’m certain what’s appropriate.