He heard the surgeon/sculptor say
the difference between surgery
and sculpture is control.
He is in charge of the clay
while the flesh goes its own way
toward healing. It was in that
moment he knew that
in retirement he was in control
of his own day.
He wrote sermons for parishioners
and articles for editors with
the final say.
Now he controls the words,
lines,
meter and rhymes
his own way.
It’s quite liberating,
if he does so say.