TENDERNESS

The first lesson
you don’t get to choose,
it just happens
in its own random,
stupid way.
He says: hold this
and you do. Or you
don’t. Or you hold it
and then let it go.
All ways, every way
you learn.

It’s the first lesson;
and you don’t get
to choose.

But the next lesson
is yours; and you
surprise yourself
because this time
you turn.
You open.

You choose this
lesson. You
practice it:
turn, open, turn
open, over
and over,
again.