Picked up a random poetry book From the crowded shelf. Quick easy hour read: Delight and wonder. Then, Found…
Friday Poetry Musings During a Pandemic
As the sun descends in the western skyline,
The constant roar of traffic nearby endless,
Doves coo to each other in fondness,
Leaves wave slightly along with the towering oak,
My mind takes in my solitude.
The wrens and finches chatter,
While I sit alone,
Reflecting on all the blessings and challenges from
Another long week finished.
A sip of Dark Horse Cabernet
And I breathe in a deep inhale to feel my satisfied stomach,
I marvel at the changes this day brings:
The Governor’s phase one begins today:
A soft opening of restaurants and specialty stores.
With a short exhale comes
Fear that people will forget to keep their distance;
Remember that I cannot control others,
Only myself.
Walking into a store last night,
My daughter and I wore masks,
Despite the heat from our confined breaths,
As if I chose to put an oven on my face;
Store employees wore masks and gloves as required.
Awareness that no other customers hid their faces,
Pale skinned faces, open mouths,
Perusing to their own satisfaction,
People breathing without confinement or fear:
Aren’t we still in a pandemic?
I want to scream at them before
I see my daughter removed her own face covering.
How can I protest?
I remove mine too,
Relishing in the cool air of release,
An ice cube on a stifling summer’s day.
Friday night, essential workers still tremble in exhaustion;
I sit alone on my porch listening to a moving world beyond my street;
Smelling the freshness of a cool breeze and
Sweet lilac blooms.
The breeze picks up, tingling cool against my bare arms,
I focus on my breathing:
Inhale for four,
Hold for four,
Exhale for eight…
I am just fine.
Thankfulness fills my heart at all of those
Still taking the pandemic seriously.