Too Care-full Too

She sat Precariously perched On the edge of the bed, A delicate, fine china cup Far too close to the edge of the shelf, I was waiting For her to tumble; But with the arrival Of the hot meal, She had the table to steady her. And so she began to eat, Slow, tiny bites After slow and deliberate cuts Of tiny portions Gingerly, As if she were only learning how, Conserving her energy, Doling it out carefully to make it last The meal and the day. ... Once and always again, So much here is done the same: Gingerly, slowly, Deliberately, precisely. You cannot be Too careful here, And too care-full too. Both are needed, And both are true.