Love is in the Struggle

                   God wrestling is part struggle

                    and part embrace.

                            —Naomi M. Hyman

It’s that way with families

sometimes you just need to argue

about who left the light on all night

or who left an empty milk container

in the refrigerator or who didn’t fill

the car with gas when you needed

 to get out at the crack of light

or who is the family favorite

or the black sheep 

or who is more attentive—

more responsible 

And then you laugh 

Plan next year’s family events

Share stories

But sometimes things break apart

and the stories clash—

remembered events differ 

and words are left unsaid

and what was open closes

Open close

Open close

Back and forth

a kaleidoscope

of changing pieces and scenes

The rift may hover—

 struggle, embrace

struggle, embrace

Or we may settle 

on one side

of that equation

(