The letter to the editor said

It is useless to work for world peace

under this administration

so I will just work on peace in my own home.

When I spoke to the Buddhist

She told me that she had spent the first day

cleaning up.

After what, I asked.

Just life, she answered in that quiet contained voice

I will never have.

Here and there, restoring some order, so I can go on.

I didn’t even take down my tree, the ornaments from Tibet and Prague.

I cleaned my spice cupboard though, tossing the bag of bulk bay leaves from 2005, and the dried out thyme.

In the back I rediscovered a jar of bourbon molasses mustard from my father’s shelf.

We only complete what is most necessary

the Buddhist instructed me,

learning what the few remaining herbs and Tuscan oil can teach us about

starting over.