Today's Burden

this is the last one
for today
it's more
than i've written in months

i've just watched
horrified
and let none of it penetrate
my heart

how can those two simultaneously occur?

when so much horror
has swept over you that you can observe
and recognize
how ugly the reality is

and still
take your shower
brush your hair
make your coffee
kiss your husband
and teenage son
and drive to work

where you do your best
to be your best
and give your all
and make a difference
where you can, when you can

making a crying child stop
eliciting smiles because you made someone else's life
easier. for a moment.
seeing the look of gratitude,
when someone you know carries an unbearably heavy load
has shared a small bit of it with you
because at least today, at least for a moment
you have the will
to carry the burden

you don't know how far
how long

you do it while you can
while it's yours to do

until some day you lay it down
and pray that someone will be around
to do the job.