231/365

you ever get that feeling
like you just jumped off a cliff
and the descent has slowed down
so that you can feel the water
moving toward you, and
the terror of impact ricochets
around your head,
imposter syndrome feels real
and you may have bitten off
more than you can chew, but
hey you wanted leadership experience
so you better figure this out
and find a way to move everything
forward and not drop the ball
and get it right enough so at least
you feel you did what you could,
so you grab an old tattered copy of
rilke’s letter to a young poet,
remembering that years ago you gave
copies to your favorite students,
complete with an inscription,
wishing then good luck,
but tonight your mind is racing
so you grab your highlighted copy
and open it like a hymnal, hoping
that the first line will either douse
the fire in your mind or ignite it
further in you heart:

almost everything
serious
is difficult.
and everything is
serious.

and so with calm mind
and twinkling heart,
you point your toes
and embrace for impact.