I do puzzles 
not the box
or book kind
the people kind
the clock kind 
watching to see
just what it
is that makes 
someone else tick
studying to find 
the soft spot 
that one piece 
that will make 
the others fail

Slow brings 
with it
a simpler 
sample of
life living
becomes smaller 
sips turn
into taste 
and taste 
into flavor 
and texture 
from smooth
to sandy 
and savory 
becomes sweet 

It took little 
and then less
and finally all
to start with 
and also end
so goes the 
oar and love 
both little boats 

Spark or tickle
hiccup or yawn 
all are surprises
like a fortune 
cookie without wisdom 
shrugging of shoulders 
annoyance veiled as
amusing still some 
degree of chagrin 
and charm trying 
to disguise them

Oh to say 
that anything is
ever really over 
is a luxury 
of one’s denial 
not of destiny 
fate takes the 
winds of misfortune 
and turns them 
into tempests of 
fury and despair 
but the calm
breeze of destiny 
does not blow 
but quietly carries 
the leaves of 
hope to the 
dark rich soils
of what’s possible