Ted Bookey of Readfield and his wife, poet Ruth Bookey, direct the poetry series at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell. Ted’s poetry is a unique combination of the comic and the serious. In today’s poem, he writes not only about the power of it, but the force of love.

The Power of It

By Ted Bookey

Ruth woke sad today. Life, she says,

Has been behaving itself & hopeful

Expectations continue, so why now

Nameless dread & mope at sunrise?

What is it? What can it be?

I do not know but I will try.

To help her against it

— whatever it is

I put my arms around her,

Tell her, “What it is, is

There will come moments

When it is simply it.”

I say this for myself

As much as for her —

That it is just it.

& it helps.