The toddler and his parents moved last week.
I skirted stacks of boxes, searched for books
and toys and coffee gear, in hide-and-seek
I didn’t need. I wasn’t charmed by looks
or feelings. Next I was by news dismayed —
my kitchen cabinets produced my frown.
We don’t know where they are, so work’s delayed,
and soon I learned my garden tree was down.

I think I started laughing then; too much
was going cattywampus, backwards, weird.
It triggered my resilience and a touch
of gratitude it wasn’t worse. I veered
away from fret and even kept my calm
when fielding a distress call from my mom.