Poem
Ellen van Neerven
social isolation is an act of love
we scroll the news
trying to figure out what’s to come
looking at measures placed on other countries
school closures
city lockdowns
individual freedoms we give up
where will we be a day from now
a week, a month
six months from now?
projections made onto bodies
hearts in mouths
we worry ourselves sick
looking outside ourselves
time to look within
go inside
we scrutinise the house
what’s not on our shelves
counting what we have left
with fresh eyes
we see shelter-in-place
it’s time to make a home
clean and mend what we have
make warm and special
it’s the only place we’ve got
rearrange the spice rack
tea cupboard
sock drawer
maybe find something
we thought we lost
retrieved from a locked place
pick up that book
finish that puzzle
rekindle an old thought
bake a cake
pick up a paintbrush, pencil or needle
rewire the self
host freshly picked flowers
light a candle
put on a favourite record
it’s okay to grieve
2020
it’s not what we expected
ring friends and kin living alone
check in
with our voice
no mass gatherings at funerals
we send digital messages to the bereaved
the absence of ceremony hurts
the dog needs to be walked
we shuffle outside
there is no one about
butterflies surround us
the world shuts down borders
the birds carry on as usual
the world is a physical place
social distancing is hard
the virus is a living thing
it weaves separation
Dr Suan says to isolate is not an act of fear
it’s an act of love
how will we be in lockdown
will we sing like the Italians
cheer for front-line workers like the Spanish?
love our Elders
nurture affective relations
share our pasta
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