I became my own hermitage —Peter Levitt


retreats were out
of reach while raising
my disabled son
I was single, young
and poor

I yearned for quiet,
peace and calm
time away I couldn’t
afford from a needy
thwarted boy
so I built my own inside

carved a sacred place
friendly, tranquil, still—
I could slip away
while busy, shore up
reserve and recoup calm

I wove practice into
daily life, thresholds
a pause for prayer—
over years this altered
cells, transformed me
into grateful