papermaker

 i found that there was a bit

of wet pulp about myself

last saturday

that i removed and placed on the dashboard.

a reminder of who i am

what i do.

i am a papermaker.

 i used to remove pulp

from the tiny hairs on my forearms

in the line at the grocery store

or at the library, searching for a good book.

 i am also a teacher, 

and the above jiggly photo was taken on my way to work

one morning this week.

below is recorded the time and temperature.

we've had a week of very warm weather 

for september.

and that little piece of paper pleases me.

that evening i walked and looked at the light

which is going so quickly now

but the colors, like the temperatures,

have been slow to change.

but change it will.

and this is what i know,

despite me digging in my heels,

change.

is.

real.