Polarities

To be still

without being inert,

receptive

without being greedy—

the excesses I would love

to tame, to temper,

the unruly Gemini twins

of my nature, always

leading me a breathless dance

between the two polarities.

I vow to breathe, to find

the pivot point, the quiet

wooden spindle, spool,

from which the thread

can play out

without snagging or tangling,

graceful, steady, temperate.

Torn though I am,

and scattered easily

as a bright carnival of confetti,

I'll make an honest effort.

—Christie