I Bow to Time

I bow to time
Quite literally
In the kitchen
Before the clock with the pendulum

I pause to consider my options
And conflicting desires
Wants, needs
To walk in sunshine
To read, to exercise
To correspond, to work
To eat, to dream
To study, to sing

I bow before time
As a Japanese warrior
Bowing in respect before the battle
Bowing in respect after the battle
Win or lose
Honoring the adversary
Who makes your battle possible
Honoring the ally
Who makes your battle possible
Meaningful
Challenging
Joyful
Sad

Inside the bow is gratitude and respect
For what I am given and what I am not
Here
In this nanosecond of cosmic time that is my life
Our life
Awareness
Choices
Gratitude
Love

Swept up in time
One moment it is stormy
The next bright sunshine
If you don’t like the weather
Wait around a few minutes

I bow to the clock
To time
To limits
To reality so called
To my spirit
To my flesh
To the great mind

The bow
Is delicious

© 1980s