Some days, things we count on fail –
the camp stove rusts out, the showerhead
gets blocked, the jar that holds the knives
breaks at the bottom

And though we thought we had no time
for tending things, we have to stop  –
clean up glass, replace
the knife container, showerhead, and stove,
and in the pause to fix things,
life gets better

Some days I’m just happy –
the summer rhythm folds me in,
and time and progress
get a different measure.

©Wendy Mulhern
July 5, 2021