The Time of Covid
The book I tried to read, monotony
washing clothes, an order for pickup
a quick walk with the dog, gray skies
gray mind, new gray corduroy pants
sameness, stillness, frustration
impatience, writing, Netflix
deleting emails, covid cases climb
housebound, mask-bound, boosted
bitter cold, bitter mind, biting my tongue
people dying, democracy dying, loss of faith
the chilling cold, the boredom of the day
sameness of the day, same old same old
sadness, deeper, longer, bleaker
no respite, no escape, no change
the book I failed to read, monotony.
****
A Short Addendum
2022 peaceful times
Cocooned in my home
trapped but somewhat safe
Only today mattered
tomorrow was a question
would fear ever end?
2025 when I write this
tomorrow is still a question
will fear ever end?
For my prompt at What's Going On? -- "The Days We Stayed Apart"
I resonate with those glimpses of the times we lived through - especially powerful is your question "will fear ever end?" Fear is on steroids this year. More than during covid.
ReplyDeleteThese impressions are right on track: monotony, boredom, greyness, bitterness, fear. I like how they tumble into this poem. And the addendum about the fear now! We have a different kind of plague, one that as yet has no antidote. You nailed it.
ReplyDeleteFear is the exact emotion that gripped us all then. And such uncertainties! You've captured the time so well. I don't feel fear is ending soon. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWill fear ever end? It seems to be increasing daily.
ReplyDeleteI think I resonated with your addendum. And also the greyness - Jae
ReplyDeleteMy MIL taught me laying down to close my eyes and lay still. In no time troubles will be behind. Asleep.
ReplyDeleteMary, these two poems are full of the fear that most of us had to live with in very trying times. VOCID may have gone away, but new kinds of dreadful menace rule the world today. I fear for the generations to come, for they shall have to deal with far more serious problems than we did/do...
ReplyDelete"Will fear ever end?" Important question.
ReplyDelete