You were always impatient
about the right things—
getting the boat out in time for the fish,
getting to the ferry in time for the beach,
getting me to dress in time for church.
And patient about the right things, too—
Once when you hooked a small bass,
how patient you were, and gentle, removing
the hook then leaning low to drop the fish
in the water, watching it swim away.
There was always enough time for tenderness,
always enough time for letting go.