The Cost of Small Permissions

The Price of Justifications 

And still—

I call it uninvited. 

Uninvited, 

a small kitten approached my door.

Ignorantly,

I offered a single bowl of milk

Unexpectedly,

the kitten stayed.

Reluctantly,

I became its keeper.

Uninvited,

a seed of discontent brushed my heart. 

Ignorantly, 

I gave it space to settle. 

Unexpectedly, 

it rooted.  

Reluctantly, 

I let it remain. 

Uninvited, 

the vines threaded through my thoughts. 

Ignorantly, 

I listened. 

Unexpectedly, 

I echoed. 

Reluctantly—

or so I told myself—

I fostered it.

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

April 30, 2026