Our Lady of Perpetual House for Sale

Our Lady of Perpetual House for Sale

For months I have been in Downward Facing Dog
I'm not even sure if I'll be able to stand again
when that time finally arrives.
But I have done everything I was supposed to:
~knees gently bent, elbows firm but not locked
~Achilles tendons stretched taut, bottom in the air
~cleaned the house from floor to ceiling
~found a real estate agent, listed the house, packed boxes
while my daughter was in school
~gave away the ballast that collects between moves...
...and still my face is to the hardwood floor
my hair framing the view in limp coils collecting dust.
Is there anything missing?
Then why am I still here?
My teacher says we must breathe slowly into
that which feels uncomfortable.
Not as an act of resignation,
but as an act of acceptance of the way things are NOW,
this moment.
I breathe slowly:
each breath a full moon cycle,
each breath drawing me closer to the reality of living in a model home.
I accept that I may never find my extra spool of black thread,
the spare Scotch tape, that piece of jewelry.
I accept that I have no response for every person who asks,
"So, when ya leaving?"
I accept. Palms to the floor.

Madeline Moss, August 2008