Tonight, I bid them all a crowned farewell (4/17/2020)
Song of April's robin perched
at the end of my eye.Having turned down the volume
of a workweek mind, tunnelingthrough the endless news
of Coronavirus madness.Fatal lightning striking all over
our planet, corkscrew fear.Swirling maelstrom, as I walk
evening through desertedstreets of Northeast Philly,
houses silent as tombstones.I sink inside stillness
of another Friday night.Ferris wheel of space turns.
Carousel of earth slowly spins.Around the globe, wildlife
reportedly entering cities: deer& sheep appear in places
never seen before, evena puma spotted, & elephants
entering villages in India.But here in my muted city:
stoppage of traffic, shelter-in-place, social distancing,
face masks & gloves.Everyone eyeingly suspicious
of each other. Here, hissedslowed sounds, as I pine
for what it used to be.Memories of a different
time & place, when wetook life for granted.
Now a hush of voices, quietoutside my Longshore home.
Draped coffin bell night& so many here sick
& dying in my citystate, country, worldwide.
Numbers staggering& ballooning higher
as lively bubbles floatto the top of my ginger ale
glass, to try & settlea sickened stomach.
Empty night filled by sirens& all the stars' sleepless
eyes staring upside down.Numerous humans never
having the chance to saygood-bye to loved ones.
Tonight, I bid them alla crowned farewell.
Like the return clusterof Monarchs flying home—
fluttering flashes of goldenorange light—restful now
after a long, suffering flight.