one sand grain among the others in winter wind

I wake with my hand held over the place of grief in my body.

"Depend on nothing," the voice advises, but even that is useless.

My ears are useless, my familiar and intimate tongue.

My protecting hand is useless, that wants to hold the single leaf to the tree

and say, Not this one, this one will be saved.

~ Jane Hirshfield

from After