It's Still Life

The Old Woman’s Unwritten Rules – Vol. IV

I.
Let the rain borrow your porch,
but never your umbrella.
Some things are meant to be
just damp enough
to remember they’re alive.

II.
If a teacup cracks,
don’t mourn the china.
Ask what it’s trying to say.
Most breaks are just
unfinished sentences.

(Exception: when the cat “accidentally” knocks it over. That’s pure poetry.)

III.
Keep one jar labeled “Maybe Later,”
filled with: – the third verse
of that song you can’t recall,
– a dream you meant to finish,
– the letter you wrote but never sent.

IV.
Never trust a clock
that ticks too evenly.
Time is a river.
You shouldn’t hear it marching.

V.
When the wind brings you a secret,
tie it to a dandelion stem
and let it go right back out.
Some stories aren’t yours to keep.
You shouldn’t hear it marching.