paring knife

by Katherine Denemark

there must be an end to this,
and this and this.
is it wrong to go thru life
with a paring knife, not this
not this, with good intentions?
are we meant to add
or subtract, or stand in the middle
with aching shoulders burning
to hold the weight of balance?
there will be an end to this,
never without fear,
and this and this.