when I walk in the woods,
  take a picture,
  hear the quiet, the birds,
  see the sun sneaking through the forest,
  see the dogs running to me,
  take the sheep to the meadow,
  hear the donkeys bray,
  the goats jeer,
  watch the big cows fend off the flies

   and for the dead things I see,
   and the sore back,
   and throbbing ankle
   and dread that sometimes
   washes over me like a mist,
   there are so many more things to do
   than can possibly be done
   in a day,
   in a week,
   in a life

   a friend told me today
   that he was sorry for me,
   worried about me
   you are no spring chicken,
   it is time to slow down,
   hang around, do less,
   be normal, watch TV,
   or you will wear out
   make yourself crazy

    and I laughed,
    and I said I have nothing to fear,
    I am already there,
    I am
    nothing but blessed
    for having all these things to
    learn and do,
    that I can never learn and do,
    there are so many of them,
    and just one of me, which is too bad
    because of there were more of me,
    i could do more things

     and he said I am sorry
     that you lost a sheep,
     it must be hard
     and I said I am not,
     and it is not,
     it is a part of my life,
     just as much
     as a picture of a pretty flower,

     and I said look, don’t worry about me,
     I am living my life, and I am grateful
     for it every single minute of every
     single day, however long it lasts
     and it would be a sin to waste
     a second of it

    so I realize that I am grateful for each thing that happens
    to me, and every day is a good day in that way,
    and I am nothing but blessed