For much of my life

 I’ve stepped up

and stepped forward,

but now, it seems, I’m being asked

to  learn a different kind of step,

 one not familiar to me.

 At first I felt an inexplicable sadness

and perhaps remnants

of that sadness will remain,

but intertwined there is also

an unaccustomed peace

that maybe only 

stepping back can bring.

                                                                                        JDG