Bringing light in these uncertain times is a plethora of poetry being shared. It’s amazing the power that poetry can have bringing our attention to the matters of humanity. The last of these is mine.
And the people stayed home.
And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”
– Kitty O’Meara.
“I Worried”
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.”
― Swan: Poems and Prose Poems
Food
Water
Shelter
-ing in place
Social-
Distancing
Heads down
Trying to navigate
this new reality
fragile as a teacup
pure survival for some.
Still, words fly fast
through what medium they can
reaching ears
exiting mouths
pencils held in hands
fingers on keyboards
expression
encouragement
words
Food
Water
Shelter
-ing in place
Social-
Distancing
poetry
Alanna Pass
- image by the author
By Alanna Pass 