The Simple Things
(Based on 3 words: Fever, Rope, Pencil)
By Krista Rundiks

I haven’t written with a pencil for years,
replaced by feverish typing on a keyboard for
40 hours a week or notations on a mobile phone
or the occasional scribble from a ballpoint pen.

I still own one basic yellow lead pencil… somewhere.
The kind I grew up with in 90’s elementary school,
although it’s probably dulled and almost unusable
without a sharpener, which is nowhere to be found.

Another generation come to find, can’t read
or write cursive… a product of public schooling.
Although, who I am to judge…? I didn’t learn
much about history, geography, or literature.

Another reflection… the last time I needed a rope
was to hang the shade sails on the back patio.
Realizing I know nothing about tying a useful knot,
explaining this to my survivalist handyman.

Made me wonder how I’ve made it this far in life…
What I’ve realized is:

You don’t need a pencil or rope to get by,
you don’t need to know how to write cursive,
you don’t need to be a sophisticated erudite,
you just need to be resilient and kind.