We Manage Most When We Manage Small

By Linda Gregg
Read by Yanyi

What things are steadfast? Not the birds.
Not the bride and groom who hurry
in their brevity to reach one another.
The stars do not blow away as we do.
The heavenly things ignite and freeze.
But not as my hair falls before you.
Fragile and momentary, we continue.
Fearing madness in all things huge
and their requiring. Managing as thin light
on water. Managing only greetings
and farewells. We love a little, as the mice
huddle, as the goat leans against my hand.
As the lovers quickening, riding time.
Making safety in the moment. This touching
home goes far. This fishing in the air.

Credits

Directed by Matthew Thompson.

Linda Gregg, “We Manage Most When We Manage Small” from All of It Singing: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 1981 by Linda Gregg. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Graywolf Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.graywolfpress.org. All rights reserved.