Peace One Hour a Week (November 2023)

At 3:00 the senior center is quiet.

only the T’ai Ch Chih group arriving

quietly greeting one another.

I don’t know most of their names. 

I learned the movements five or six years ago;

they are more recent practitioners.

The big room is empty, except for chairs

against the wall. The east facing windows

reveal a stand of trees, late clinging leaves,

beyond trees a kettle pond’s still surface 

reflects slowly fading autumnal sunlight. 

I take off shoes. We space ourselves

well apart, follow “warm up” instructions:

posture, breathing, rocking foot to foot,

heel to toe. Debby names the nineteen

movements we repeat nine times each.

“One more” she says counting the reps,

her voice is barely audible. I move,

watching leaves tremble or dance.

We, too, move individually like the leaves.

Some 40 minutes we move, pause, move…

always slowly, no stretching, no “fitness” goals,

no underlying philosophy, quiet in the room,

quiet in your minds, simply sharing peacefulness.

Finally balance on one leg. Bow. Go to chairs.

Sit quietly, eyes closed five minutes. Quietly

we put on shoes, say quiet goodbyes.

We return to lives we live elsewhere.