People are dying alone, comforted by
prayers crashing through hospital windows
on megaphones. I-love-you’s on iPads held at arm’s length, the arm
covered in hazmat, faces covered hands covered voices covered
by whir and drip, beep and buzz of lifesaving machines that
will not save that life. Goodbye.
and I am hearing singing in the trees.
The house sparrow’s found her mate
the cardinal’s paired up with his lifelong partner
robins gather with their families; together
they look for dinner in the April lawns, still
muddy with winter snowmelt.
People are crying alone. Alone
they stand as they will live. Solo. In the cemetery.
The grave waiting, the gravedigger waiting
for their sweetheart their child their motherfather, their friend
and I am hearing wind making love
to trees bare but budding, skeletons soon to spray
pink petals over greening meadows, white blossoms
floating, air currents warming tempting necks
to fling off scarves , feet to throw socks shoes sandals
under the nearest bush. Toes. Toes! All ten of them on earth.
People are going on, alone. Eating, sleeping, aching alone, asking
the self they’re left with What’s the point? Who
am I without you? A voice answering: The me
that I became with you. Because of you.
The us I am forever.
The birds. The trees. Ten toes
on the ground. Walking.
Copyright 2020 Marian Shapiro
Bio:
Marian Kaplun Shapiro, a previous contributor, is the author of a professional book, Second Childhood (Norton, 1988), a poetry book, Players In The Dream, Dreamers In The Play (Plain View Press, 2007) and two chapbooks: Your Third Wish, (Finishing Line, 2007); and The End Of The World, Announced On Wednesday (Pudding House, 2007). A Quaker and a psychologist, her poetry often embeds the topics of peace and violence by addressing one within the context of the other. A resident of Lexington, she is a five-time Senior Poet Laureate of Massachusetts. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in 2012. Her latest book of experimental poems, At The Edge Of The Cliff, will be published by Plain View Press early next year.
Donation Appeal:
Throughout June and July, we will be presenting on this web site work by poets and artists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you will find these works relevant, comforting and inspiring as we all cope with the economic and health-related fallout.
As you view the work on this site each day, we would like to encourage you to donate to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Their mission “ is to feed our neighbors in need by providing dignified access to supplemental groceries. AFAC is seeing a record number of families due to the COVID-19 pandemic as families who never thought they would ever be in need are now showing up at our doors for much needed food.” And, in keeping with our hunger-focused efforts, you may also want to visit the Poetry X Hunger website where poems by many poets are posted and are being used by anti-hunger organizations.”
Throughout June and July, we will be presenting on this web site work by poets and artists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you will find these works relevant, comforting and inspiring as we all cope with the economic and health-related fallout.
Please consider donating to AFAC. If you do, let us know which poet or artist inspired you so we can send you a personal thank you.
If you send a donation, please let us know.
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