tether

I love this word tether. I don't quite know why.
I picture the lifeline. The fragility of the connection.

How easily it can be picked up by the elements and carried off somewhere.

How, with a quick tear of teeth, it's broken.

How it can be plucked from a root and discarded.

But I also see the strength that such a small hold can have.

Imagine a string wrapped around your finger

and how it has the capacity to cut off your blood supply

Or the little stitch you pull that unravels the whole sweater.

And take this tether and braid it together -

like the coming together of friends and loved ones -

intertwining their lives together in laughter, love and shared adventures.

And, suddenly, you have a rope that strong and useful and capable of many things.