It is hard to fight an enemy
who has outposts in your head.

by Sally Kempton

I

Tuco was reading Arlu's letter,
"Blessed are the flexible,
for they shall not be bent out of shape."¹
She had a habit for riddles. He was used to that
but this was a puzzle.

"You've got to think about the big things
while you're doing the small things
so all the small things
go in the right direction."²
Ah, Tuco thought, we're closing in on something here.
So, closing on what?

II

Arlu read a wide spread of book types.
And mixed their ideas with great abandon.
Tuco understood that,
he thought he might even do it more than she.
But this time....
She was reading Getting Things Done by David Allen
and with great enthusiasm!

So master of her ideas? Or not?
That was never easy to divine!
And was part of her magic.

Now, if she'd iron shirts as well....
Tuco had to chuckle,
he knew better
than to expect
any ironing
at all.
Ever.

Especially when she was home.

Meanwhile, there is this letter to decrypt.
And savor.