One Small Kindness - Kristy Hellum

[Lawrence Robinson]

One Small Kindness



I’ve built a little shelter

a hand hewned lean-to

on the side of a mountain

inside my heart



There, moist living holy soil

welcomes all my troubles

with a soothing kindness



This rough shelter fits me snugly

 the curvature of my body’s roundness

and its rough edges

perfectly held



Resting against the old logs

is like leaning into an old friend

I wriggle the crook of my arm

and the low of my back

into the decomposing leaves

aware that the earthen walls 

are cradling all my

imagined imperfections

as I sink deeper down



I go there when love

isn’t returned



I take sanctuary there

after an unkind word

penetrates my heart



or when my country’s soul

is crumbling all around me



Yes I too am surprised at

how thin my skin can be

or that I don’t have a veil at all

protecting my heart



Please know that

your one small kindness

is all I need today



It’s all that anyone may need

to remain anchored and alive

one more day. 



	- Kristy Hellum
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