Trying to Write a Poem – Joy Mar

I’m trying to write a poem about
                the personal cost of this pandemic
                the losses I feel.
 
How I miss being at the office every day.
                Then I remember the first-responders
                who must go to work so others might live.
 
How I miss having my face mask-free in public.
                Then I remember all those who don’t have
                masks to keep themselves and others safe.
 
How I miss my medical and dental checkups.
                Then I remember all those who never
                get these basic health-care services.
 
How I miss going out for lunches and dinners.
                Then I remember the owners and staff
                of restaurants that may not survive.
 
How I miss shopping at grocery stores, selecting items.
                Then I remember people all over the world
                who suffer daily without enough food to eat.
 
How I miss attending plays and concerts.
                Then I remember I can Zoom to them
                while others lack computers and connections.
 
How I miss hugging family and friends.
                Then I remember servicemen and women           
                who endure far lengthier separations.

I long for life to return to normal.
                Then, just now, I get a phone call.
                You are dying from this virus, alone.

© 2020  Joy Martin

Bio:

Southern-born, Joy remains sequestered at home in New England’s Boston area, surrounded by the comforts and discomforts of white privilege.  Her poems explore the many facets of life, including her and broader humanity’s place and challenges within it.  Systemic racism in our culture presents its ugly faces in many of her poems.  Her hope is that we can use poetry and our other resources to combat COVID-19 and racism and all ill-forces that separate us.

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.