I went to feed the horses this morning
but the sliding barn door
that almost blew off its hinges yesterday
actually blew off its hinges today
so heavy
I almost fell underneath it
but these arms and this back
these legs and this core
this body
that holds my children
while we dance in the kitchen
that throws bales of hay from the loft
to the ground
that carries buckets of water from out back
to the stalls
that moves the furniture for sweeping
that carries the over-loaded laundry baskets
that catches my wild babies when they jump
off their beds or the rock wall or the end table . . .

this body
caught it
and even against the wind
was able to set it down
without breaking it
or getting hurt.

Such relief
heart racing
I closed my eyes
and took a shaky breath.

Such gratitude
for this body
this vessel
that holds me
and my life together
that holds my children
and the laundry
and the hay and the buckets
and the sliding barn door
that blew off its hinges.