Before, when things were bad She would drink some wine And text some random man Wake up with a clear mind And go on, everyone be damned Still, the lawns are verdant, the sunsets apricot Still, the unknown neighbors amble by And wave their nightly waves Still, the deer rip through the hosta And far-off children hoot in play She wakes to the same strong coffee The same toast and vitamins Robins in the birdbath Dogs excitedly pulling her Down familiar paths Yet now she yanks their leashes And rubs the creases above her nose She cannot decide which mask to wear What to make for lunch or dinner Or where to go Copyright 2020 Anne Metcalf
Bio:
Anne Metcalf consults for cultural and conservation organizations in Washington, DC. She is a Virginia native and a member of the Poetry Society of Virginia.
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.”
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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