Someone’s leaving dishes in the sink and refusing to wash them. Someone’s letting newspapers smother the kitchen table. There’s dirt staining the edges of baseboards and hairballs tumbling over the hardwoods while Dove and Swiffer and Mr. Clean isolate in separate closets. Things do fall apart if we let them. It doesn’t require a pandemic or invasion or an angry mob unmasked waving antiquated flags. A president lies or jokes or conspires; then two brothers Target a store clerk, and soccer moms drizzle insults upon the teen scooping their Rocky Road. Someone dropped a mirror on the floor and hasn’t swept the pieces, yet. A president tells us it’s not his job: it isn’t his fault. I am beginning to believe him. Copyright 2020 Lyman Grant
Bio:
Lyman Grant lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia. His most recent book of poems is 2018: Found Poems and Weather Reports.
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.
