I have chosen this life,

given up many things to have it.

I suppose that’s the way of all lives,

but in my case it was more obvious,

abrupt,

and left people behind in the dust,

shaking their heads.

I took the little I had to work with

wrung it dry and squeezed it to

fit the mold I had chosen.

It’s plastic where I would have

had bisque,

pulp where I would have had linen,

concrete where I would have had tile,

and stainless where I’d have rather had sterling,

but it’s a life I can live

and I can trust it.

by Cher Bibler