My face-to-face meeting with directors of California Writing Project sites all over the state became a Zoom meeting in light of the Corona virus pandemic. I was not looking forward to hours in front of my computer screen, I knew I would miss all the informal opportunities for conversation and camaraderie. But I was wrong. Today’s meeting was energizing and comforting and brought much-needed connection and shared experiences with others who can relate in a world that is suddenly so filled with uncertainty.
Our rich conversations had me jotting down phrases, words I couldn’t forget. And during my beach walk this afternoon, they started to become a poem of sorts. So here’s the early draft…not quite done, found in the words of my colleagues.
Just Wait
In a roiling cauldron of virus brew
we swim
blindly dodging infection
unwilling to get out
sure if we can’t see it, it’s not there
The pandemic spreads
morphing from fear of illness
into a pandemic of disappointment:
canceled events, weekend plans, the coveted spring break
we resist–just this once, I’ll be okay
wash your hands, pump the hand sanitizer
It’s time for each of us to listen loudly
to hear voices of those at risk
each of us is a single brick, interlocking, interconnected
whether we want to be or not
Distance physically
but not emotionally
wash your hands, cough into your elbow
cancel your plans and check on your neighbor
find ways to inject an inoculation of connection
without passing the virus
Write more, read more
Facetime with Grandma, phone call to Dad
and wait…
®Douillard
(And an image from this afternoon’s trip to the grocery store. Empty shelves are so unexpected!)
Thinking Through My Lens 
I love this poem, thank you for sharing this! My favorite line – distance physically, not emotionally.
This was my favorite line:
find ways to inject an inoculation of connection without passing the virus
I think that personal connections will be the only antidote to fear. I’m glad you were able to participate in the conference!
Nice draft! I love your use of the term, “distance physically but not emotionally”.
Found poetry! Such a good idea for these times. If we collect the things we hear, it can be so inspirational!
So glad your online meeting surpassed expectations! I like your poem and especially the line ‘ a pandemic of disappointment’. I think that sums up the situation so well.
I’m glad that you found comfort and connection from your meeting. I like your emphasis on “an inoculation of connection.” I keep trying to focus on the moments where people are shining and working together to handle these difficult times–and there are many! These lines also popped out for me: “each of us is a single brick, interlocking, interconnected/whether we want to be or not.”
“Write more
Read more”
great poem …. captures the anxiety but also the possibilities …
Kevin