The Poem Starts Here

The Poem Starts Here

The poem starts here
right now in this moment
of this my seventh writing day
It awakens early in the morning
moves from room to room
looks out the window
notices the pouring rain
has a bagel with coffee
before deciding what to do

and it doesn't question what to write
which subject or which words
because all beginnings lead somewhere
down hallways into rooms
up some stairs and down others
doors open and doors close

and I will not question the poem
its subject or its choice of words
as there is no right or wrong
only today leading to tomorrow
into some kind of unknown future
this poem ends here


Wild Writing
Day 7

What If?

What If?


What if the time of the virus went on for the rest of my life
and I could never interact with people again
that this is what life would always be like
isolating being the forever norm
a trapped feeling a way of life
the anger building
smile fading.


What if the time of the virus went on for the rest of my life
and I ran out of things to do and books to read
and areas to clean and junk to throw out
while nightmares replaced restful sleep
and I wanted to scream loudly
to shake a fist at God
and did.



Wild Writing - Day 6

Weren't We Beautiful Then?

Weren't We Beautiful Then?


Weren't we beautiful then
when we walked through the streets of Jerusalem
enjoyed the scenes, people, food, ambiance
wandered into stores and freely touched what we wanted to buy.

Weren't we beautiful then
when we could hike along the Seven Bridges Trail
peopled or not,  Covid still an unknown word,
winding through nature, hair blowing in the wind.

Weren't we beautiful then
when we had a family Memorial Day barbecue
nothing like grilled burgers being eaten together,
lively conversation, a shared meal around a common table.

Weren't we beautiful then
when we visited Kopps Ice Cream
on a hot summer day and sat on benches to eat
and it didn't matter if we were six feet away.

Weren't we beautiful then
when we planned what we wanted to do
didn't have to worry about infected people
life was so gentle then.

Weren't we beautiful then
I realize we took so much for granted
oblivious to the fact that things could change
we have pictures of the way things were.

Weren't we beautiful then
our days stretched out before us
the sun shining - and when the rain came
we knew the sun would appear tomorrow.

Weren't we beautiful then?

Wild Writing Day 5

What Do You Want to Remember About These Days?

What Do You Want to Remember About These Days?

What do you want to remember about these days
that stretched out endlessly without much change
wondering what we would do during the day
and never a different kind of answer

the way we peeled carrots and potatoes and parsnips
the hum of the dishwasher and the whir of the roomba
warmth of dogs cuddling on my outstretched legs
thoughts in the middle of the night that interfered with sleep

new possibilities  that emerge when least expected
texts to my grandchildren that often went unanswered
even though I know they are home
the books I tried to read but couldn't

the Netflix shows we watched to fritter away the day
the way I finally made myself throw things out
realization that I hardly had the need for shoes
and could subsist with a few sweatshirts and jeans

hoping for warmth and no rain so we could walk
at a time of day we'd encounter no people
morning prayer  and evening studies
church services and movie discussion group

how much social life revolved around zoom
how I was more antsy than lonely
wanting to move myself but where is there to go
as I yearned for the day I could shop again

what do you want to remember about these days
just what is worth remembering about today?

Wildest Days - Day 4

Today When I Could Do Nothing

Today When I Could Do Nothing


Today when I could do nothing
I do very little which is something

I realize I am not an essential service
which means I have no obligations
and so I can forgive myself
for the leisurely drift through the day

I often yearned to have life slow down
but now all days are slow
unhurried and leisurely hour by hour
no need to rush on a sheltering day

Yet why am I sometimes so tired
from doing only a little something
not rushing into anything
merely watching the hours flow

I do very little which is something
today when I could do nothing.

Wildest Days - Day 3

Pandemic

Pandemic


What if you thought of it as opportunity
an opportunity for silence
an opportunity for reflection
time to explore just who you are
when there is nothing else you can do
but just be.......

What if you thought of it as an opportunity
to connect with God and nature
reach out with heart and mind
empathize with other humankind
(we're all in this together)

What if you thought of it as an opportunity
to read more (and something different)
be kinder and more tolerant
to organize one's space
to do what had been neglected

What if you thought of it as opportunity
to explore more of who you are
learn something new
listen without the need to speak
at this time of slowness when there is time
to just be......

Wildest Days - Day 2

Now that the Virus is Here

Now that the Virus is Here

I'd like to tell you the way it is now that the virus is here
gas is cheap but there is nowhere to go
I can't remember the date of my last fill up
a highlight of the day can be food delivery
but food must sit on the porch a while for safety
and then sanitized before it is put away

and when we drove to the other side of the city
just to look at the lake I was aware of how many
people did not wear masks--working men
chatted by their trucks as they always did
before the virus came and young men ran
biked or walked, feeling invincibility of youth
not realizing things have changed with the virus
not caring that their bravado may infect us all

and I have found myself yearning to walk through
grocery stores, to choose my own meat and produce
instead of having it chosen by an invisible shopper
and remembering how it was to sit in a theater
or church or restaurant, to have a family dinner
where people sat together instead of talking on Zoom
which is all we can do now held captive by the virus

and I wonder how long it will be before schools can open
before we can get haircuts or go to the dentist
how long before another baseball season
whether we will feel safe at a large concert ever again
or shake hands as we did before the virus came

I shelter in place and wonder what the world will learn
from this time much of the world has come to a halt,
but this is the way it is now
             now that the virus is here.

Written for 27 Wildest Days - Day 1

Shared at Earthweal.