THE ART OF SMALL THINGS: Stitch by stitch, we begin again

I teach a small child

to crochet,

marvelling at his determination,

his drive to learn,

at his tiny hands grappling with

the precise repetitive dance

of hook and yarn,

of consistent tension.

Stitch by stitch. I demonstrate.

Pass him the work.

He tries again. And again.

Stitch by stitch.

We drive to the bazar to buy yarn -

he will make a scarf for his maman.

And in the grace of this mini-human,

in his love-driven willpower,

in the wonder in his eyes

as the green scarf begins to grow,

I am flooded with serenity,

with the knowing

that – beyond this small, delicious moment,

someday,

the world will mend itself.

Stitch by stitch

we begin again.