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Yin and Yang of Sorrow and Joy

By Marilyn MacArthur

Like a shell on the beach, my heart
has traveled untold distances to be here
today. So you can pick me up or drop me
as suits your wishes. I don’t mind,
either which way. The air around me
embraces a Presence on the wing
that I could catch like a butterfly,
if only I had the proper net. But I do not,
so I’ll sit very, very still. And perhaps
she’ll land, either which way.

A longtime New Englander, Marilyn MacArthur is a writer of poetry and creative nonfiction who works in human services and actually loves and respects humans. She has been a special education teacher and an activities director in long-term care, and is now a case manager for individuals with intellectual disabilities. A dog person who adores her cat, Marilyn is fascinated with archaeology and linguistics, loves Dr. Who and the Lord, and delights in musical comedies and Celtic rock.