Even the smallest strand of saffron
goldens the rice and lends
its good and earthy bitterness
to each of the ten thousand
grains in the pot.
My friend says she wants
to make a bigger difference,
doubts the effect she has.
There are many ways, I think,
to reach many.
One is to do as the saffron crocus does—
put everything you have
into just a few threads,
then trust they’re potent enough
to change everything.