as i child i was told

“it takes all ages and stripes”

and

“You can’t tell a tiger to change his stripes” –

not to mention somehow i needed to

“earn my stripes”

but no one ever said,

“there will be stripes sleeping at your door.”

Quite independent of all idioms,

he cares neither to change his stripes,

nor if they are earned or unearned.

Yet, he changes daily,

understanding it takes all ages and all stripes

and a moment of grace under an eave in the rain

to awaken when the sun comes out.