POETSRESPONDTOTHEPANDEMIC
JeanieTomanek,“OurGroundTimeHereWillBeBrief”CourtesyoftheArtistandTheLoft
Allpoemsandartworksarepublishedwithpermissionoftheauthorsandartists.Copyrightremainssolelywiththepoetsandartistswhoseworkisusedhere.
CONTENTS
COMPASSION Compassion(PalmSunday,2020) DianeWalkerFAITH Zojaj:Ameer SheikhaA. AbideWithMe,March2020 JudithSornbergerFAMILY Post-ItNotestoGrandmaRuth DuringthePandemic JudithSornbergerFEAR TheHomewardDove LornaCahall KnowinginaTimeofFear MarcHarshman Doctorssaylostsenseofsmell maybecluetocoronavirus DrewMyronHEALING Essential LauraBoggess
HOPE Hope:April2020 MarjorieMaddoxHafer VanGogh’s‘SpringGarden’ MarthaSilanoLOSS SocialSafetyNet MaureenE.DoallasLOVE LoveandAdore(WeWillCome OutTogether) SalmaArastu Love RobertMcDowellRENEWAL AftertheFire(ATanka) LaurieKleinRESILIENCE Tuesday,Pandemic DrewMyronSHELTER Canopyofyou:anerasurepoem DrewMyronSOCIALDISTANCING (PHYSICALDISTANCING) SocialDistancing KristinBerkey-Abbott
AfterAuden,afterBrueghel MarjorieMaddoxHafer InaTimeof‘SocialDistancing,’ IMissMyMother JudithSornbergerSOLACE Always ChristineValtersPaintner SPIRIT/SPIRITUAL Spiritual YahiaLababidi Marcescence MichelleOrtegaSTRENGTH Hymn:anerasurepoem DrewMyronTECHNOLOGY Crown ShannaPowlusWheeler TOUCH Nexttonext DrewMyronNotes
COMPASSIONCompassion(PalmSunday,2020) byDianeWalkerWeholdinourheartsaprayer
Forallwhowalkalone;forallthevulnerable;
Forallthechurchdoors,onceopen,nowclosed;
Forthosewho'vedied,andforalltheoneswholovedthem;
Foralltheonesstillworkingtoserve,
Andalltheoneswhonowareunemployed;
Forallthecolors,slowlybeingleached
Outofaworldawashingrief:
Wenolongerwaveourpalms,
Wesimplywashthem,
Over,
Andover.
FAITHZojaj:Ameer bySheikhaA. thegroundisrumbling/theairabuzz/withcrashingwaterenergies/ whilethemidnightskiesabove/saluteitall—withsilentcriesoflove ~TigheO'DonoghueRossNiqaab-lessduskhasfounditsbeyond,Ishowmyfaceforitsfissuredbeautywithouttheneedforlayers;closetothehandbearingKauthar,nightbirdshaveconfusedthelightformorning.Silencershavebeenstrippedoffthisbody,andIcannotrobethisskinwithlinensofsecrets—theresilienceIwore—asIappearnotthewayearthcoveredeverysownintent;Iappearasglassthroughwhichlightbreaksandscattersintrueform;Iappearaboveshadows,mycaravansofcloaksheavyvelvetofpledges.Thesehandswillburntheferocityoflightthroughitsskinandwillscablikerainbowscurvingoverskies.Whenyourhandwillberaisedtothedirectionoftrees,IwillknowthewaytotheshadeofTooba.Note: This poem was written in collaboration with the artist TigheO’Donoghue/Rossandrespondstohispainting“TheProphecy/TheCascade”,whichfollows.
TigheO’Donoghue/Ross,TheProphecy/TheCascade,2019
AbidewithMe,March2020 byJudithSornbergerBumpedupagainstandoverlappingoneanother,it’shardtotellonepaintedturtle’solive-tiledcarapacefromanother’s.Foramoment,IseeonlyamoundofglaringsunlightbalancedonthelogacrossMarshCreek.Whentheyreposition,Icancountsixthroughmybinoculars.Iknowit’sridiculoustothinktheyhuddlelikethisfromaffection—afamilyreunitedaftermonthshalf-frozenandalone,sunkindeepmud.It’sthesepandemictimes,Iknow,layinganewlensovereverything—timesthatforbidtouchbeyondtheshellofhome.Passingtheoccasionalotheronthispath,Icallhello,ourdistanceanembraceofwhatwehopeforeachother.Achoirofpeepersjoinsus,singingSpring.Intune,unlikethevoicesofmycongregationduringourZoomworshipthismorning,strugglingtojoineachotherfromthesquarecellsofouronscreenfaces.AbidewithMe,wewarbled,wanderingfromthepathofmelodyandstumblingback,timeaftertime,asifourlivesdependedonthiscloseness.OtherAssociatedWordsCommunity,Hope,Love,Renewal,Resilience,Solace,Spirit/Spiritual
FAMILYPost-itNotestoGrandmaRuthDuringthePandemic byJudithSornbergerAtfifteen,gettingmylearner’spermitlikeallmyfriends,drivingDad’sbabyblue’65Lancer,Ibarelynoticedyouinmyrear-viewmirrorlearningtodriveinyoursixties,shockingtheoldladiesonyourblock.Inmylovebeads,flashingpeacesigns,I’dbelievedIwastherebel.Ifyouweren’tdead,I’daskyoutoteachmeagaintocrochetaswhenyoushowedmehowtolooppearlyyellowyarnaroundahookandintotinygrannysquaresformyunwedgirlfriend’sbaby,asthoughitmightmakeherimmunetoneedorsorrow.IknowIcouldfindatutorialonline,butthatwouldn’tbringyourwarmthighoryourbowedheadclosetomineaswerecoveredsomeoftheworld’ssoftnessinthistimeofpandemic.Didyouhear?Drivinghomefromsomewhereyesterday,Icaughtmyselfwhistlinghymnsthewayyoudid—headtiltingsidetosidewiththemelody—aplumplittlechickadeetweetingAbidewithMe.Youwerealwaystryingtoluremebackintotheflock.Isittoolatetoprayyoumighthaveseenme?OtherAssociatedWordsRemembrance,Healing,Sheltering,Courage
FEARTheHomewardDove byLornaCahallshe’ssowearyflyingoverthefoldedmaskedfacessotiredcan’tstandtolookbackatflashinglightsallthewrongturnsplease,pleasedon’tlosemerunning,runningbehindyoubothchasingthefadingsunlightandwhenthenightclosesinalltogetherwaitingformoonlightalltogetherweary,sowearythehomewarddoveOtherAssociatedWordsFamily,Sheltering
KnowinginaTimeofFear byMarcHarshmanAfallofblossominasuddenbreeze and,likesnowshakenfromalimb, youshiverwithwhatyou’vecarried herefromtheheadlines
andbowyourhead.Youknowyoushouldknowbetter.Theriversluicesitscoldwaydownthemountain betweencracked,graypanelsofstone, thecanyondeafeningwithitsmadroar.Thelonelinessheremovestheearthbelowyou andyougrabholdoftheslenderestbranch, awhippetofcherryandsuddenly thewholeforestisholdingyouup.But,youknewthis,didn’tyou?Onyourkneesamidtheclutterofyourstudy, acrucifixononewall,theStones’HotLips onanother,andawindowframing thepinkhazeofmapleseager togetonwiththebusinessofspring.Youreyesfillwithsomethingneithersadnorjoyous,somethinglikethanksgivingthatsomeone,callHerorHim,Godornot,butyouknowthereisthisgreatlisteninggatheredallaroundyou.Evenasthedarkmysteriesoftheday
assailyourlockeddoors,yourneighborhood,yourworld,thereisthislisteningmuchlikeJulianinhercellcenturiesagohearingthatconvincingvoiceandknowingthatallwillbeoutofourhandsbutwellenough,andmoretoseeustotheotherside
bethateternity,nextyear,orsimplythisnextsecond,theonewherewehearanother’sheartbeatjustlikeours.
DoctorssaylostsenseofsmellmaybecluetocoronavirusbyDrewMyronSoIsmelledallthebadthingsjusttomakesureIstillcould: urineinthenursinghomehall thestove'sseepingflame potatoesspoilinginthebackdrawer asweat-soakedshirt oldbeerinabackseat hairtangledinablowdryer broccolicooking bagbalm adampbasement burntpopcorn dogturdsonfreshgrass aforestonfire morningbreath thestenchofastrandedwhale my fear.
HEALINGEssential byLauraBoggessItoldhimIwanttosee redbudblooming watertrickling birdsonginflightsoweenterthewoodattheedgeoftheneighborhoodhere,leaf-strewnspoorsandlight-soakedcathedralscalmthememoryofleftbehindsterilecorridorsandemptywait-rooms—alongwiththeN95hangingbehindmyofficedoorit’sbusinessasusualatCharlestonGeneral.intheafternoon,Isitwithapatientandhecoverstheholeinhisneckwithonefingersohecanspeak—amakeshifttracheostomyplugsuddenly,Iamawareofwheremyhandshavebeen,wheremyfeethavewalked,whatmybreathhastouched;sweatmistingaroundtheedgesofmymaskbutnow,theredtapeoftelehealthdriftsawayintotheinsistentpinkoftheredbudtrees.wesitunderacopse;swayingbranchesfiltersunlightoverourshoulders.ablack-cappedchickadeecallstohislover.thewindstirsthecanopyofblossomsaboveustherearecrimsonpetalseverywhere.
HOPEHope:April2020 byMarjorieMaddoxHafer “Hopeisthethingwithfeathers...” EmilyDickinsonA“thing,”perhaps,
andfowl,butbloody-
plucked,dippedindisease
andplummeting,thesky-highyours/mine violentlyde-plumed,baldasavulture,fickleflightundoneinthisfreefallfrenzyoffeartodoom
becomedustbecome
whatwedon’tknow becomebeforeandvoidbecomedark,become
thedawncrackofEdenonreplayandmaybe—hopeagainsthope—
becomethe“warmbreasts,brightwings”
ofSpirithovering, warming,readyingitsweary-
worldnestonce-againforwings.
OtherAssociatedWordsFaith,Fear,Spirit/Spiritual
VanGogh’s‘SpringGarden’ byMarthaSilanoIt’scalled“SpringGarden,”butitdoesn’tlooklikeone.Morelikeanemptylot,wherethereusedtobealaundromatorgasstation,aplaygroundbuttheswingshavebeenhauledaway.It’scalled“SpringGarden,”butthere’snopinkorbluepastel.Afence-likerowofgnarledsticks:morelikeagraveyardbeneathoppressivegray.Itcan’tbeagarden:thetitlemustbeamistake.Someoneinalong,blackcoatslinkspastliketheydon’twanttobeseen,letalonepainted;likethey’dhopedtopasswithoutnotice.Sneakingintoa“garden”todowhat?Visitalovedonetoopoortoaffordaheadstone?Toburyabody?Orwasitjustbeforehepulledfromhispocketapacketofseeds?Maybe,it’searlyspring—toosoonfordaffodilsandtulips,nosignofthegrowthtocome;maybethesoot-brownchurchisnotadrearysymbol,andthetreesaregreenbutthelightisturningthemhazel.Maybeit’sallbeensowed.AndLook!Afewtuftsofbrightyellowgrass,abushintheforeground,aflamewith—blossoms?Anawfullydarkredbutflowers,nonetheless.Note:AnimageofvanGogh’spaintingisprovidedattheendofthisdocument.
LOSSSocialSafetyNet byMaureenE.DoallasEvilin,33,NewYorkCityTheytellmenottobothertocomeinfortesting.Undocumented,Igaspforair. *Juan,36,Berkeley,CaliforniaLastFriday,mybossshuttherestaurant’sdoors.I’minshock.Iwasafraidtogotowork,butnow,Idon’tknowwhattodo.My9-year-oldhasasthma. *[NameWithheld],36,OhioAmigrantworker,Iplanttomatoes,onions,otherproduce.Ihavenogloves,nomasks,nosoap,norunningwater.Ibringsoapfromhome.Iwashmyhandswithmydrink-
ingwater.Mybossnolongertakesmytemperature.*Lydia,41,BostonIlackpapers.I’mterrifiedofmycommute—twohours,twotrains,abus—tomyjob.Itakecareofan86-year-oldman.Whenyougetsick,theytellus,gotothehospital.Idon’thavehealthinsurance.~Jerry,54,HusbandofLydiaIgotcaughtbyICE,spentthreemonthslockedup,missedason’sbirth.Myasylumcase?Lostit.Iworkinanursinghome.Igetgloves,amaskIwearallday.Nogown.Mywifeandfamily...Wearescared.Aboutalmosteverything.Source:AlldetailsfromTracyJan,“Undocumentedworkersamongthosehitfirst—andworst—bythecoronavirusshutdown,”TheWashingtonPost,April4,2020.
LOVELoveandAdore(WeWillAllComeOutTogether) bySalmaArastuSomesayPlanetEarthisunderrepairSomesayitistimeforSabbathSacredandblessedtimetostayquietandpraySlowdownandspendtimewithfamilyEverymomentistransitoryWisescripturesremindusagainandagainYouwillbetestedwithsomefearandhunger,lossoflivesandwealthButremainsteadfastandfeeldeepgratitudeTrustthesedarkcloudswillburstopenandbringAprilshowersIhaveheardthebirdschirping,springisaroundthecornerWewillallcomeouttogetherandconsoleeachotherAndloveeachotherasneverbeforeWeareconnectedanddependentoneachothermorethanbeforeWeshallhealeachotherwithmuchcompassionandadoreOtherAssociatedWordsCompassion,Connect/Connection,Healing,Hope
Love byRobertMcDowellWhoknowswhere&whatitisIthoughtIknewIthoughtIknewAdozentimeswhatloveis&whowasbringingituphillLikewaterinabucketOnebyonetheycollapseAmongthepoppiessayingIamtiredbearingloveallthiswayThefatherdragshimselfupFromthefallen&walksoutoftheirlivesForeverratherthandarkenOnemoredayAwomanInsiststhatlove&ambitionCancoexistinperfectharmonyYetintheendambitionwinsLoveishummingwithmemoryAkeytoadoor&anotherkeyTothedoorinsidethatoneAwellisonthepathAwomanInawindowgoesonwritingAnothertakesherfencesneitherApproachingnorfleeingfromsomeonewaitingPrayerismixedupinallofthistooOfcourse&theneedtobestillOtherAssociatedWordsFaith,Family,Grief,Spirit/Spiritual
RENEWALAftertheFire(ATanka) byLaurieKleinLightseepsthroughruinstobatheeverybrokenplacetillgapsbecomepraiseforthefirstgrassywandswavedlikewisheslikeprayers.
RESILIENCETuesday,pandemic byDrewMyronMy85-yearoldfriendwaitsatthewindowforasinglebirdtoflutterpast,theonlycompanionshenowhas.Mydadadjustshisoxygentubeandtellsmehe'llneverhugagain.Thiswillchangeeverything,hesays.Aneighborhassewnmasksthatshehangsfromastringwithasignthatsaystakeoneasifwe'resharingtomatoesorgossip.Tokeepmymindfromchatter,Ijogagain.WitheachlapIbreathehardandcrysteadyingratitudeandmagnitude,insadness,incircles.OtherAssociatedWordsCommunity,Compassion,Grief,Isolation,Lockdown,PersonalProtectionEquipment
SHELTERCanopyofyou:AnErasurePoem byDrewMyron
Whenshadowsfall/Whenabigwindblows/Itook/shelterin/the/canopyofyou
SOCIALDISTANCING(PHYSICALDISTANCING)SocialDistancing byKristinBerkey-AbbottThegrandmotherfeelsacrushofexhaustionandanxietythatleavesherbreathless:theweightofyearsofcaringforfamilymembersorthisnewvirusattackingrespiratorysystemsandsociety?Thepre-teenopenshisFrenchbookandthenclosesit.Whylearnthislanguageinatimeoftravelbans?Silently,heconjugatesadifferentverbeachtimehehearstheword“virus,”hisheartbeatcalmingwitheachvariation.Themedievalistthinksbacktogreatliteratureinatimeofplague.WhowillbeourChaucernow?Shesendse-mailtohercollegestudentsnowconsignedtoonlineclassesinatimeofsocialdistancing.Sheputsthenextloadoflaundryinthewasher,treatingthestains,hopingitwillallcomeoutinthewash.
AfterAuden,afterBrueghel byMarjorieMaddoxHafer “Aboutsufferingtheywereneverwrong, TheOldMasters...”W.H.Auden,MuséedesBeauxArtsThereisnoturningawayfromthis,orthereis,thesandy-toedraisingaglasstotheAtlantic’sdeepblueforeverjustasIcarusplunges(orBrueghel’sIcarus,orAuden’smemoryofBrueghel’sIcarus),amemoryofamemoryofsomeoneelse’ssuffering:justincidentalperipheralonabrightdayofhangoversuntiltheundertowtugsdowntheneighbortheymayknowslightlyfrom,insomeotherseason,skatingattheedgeofthewood,orpettingtheirdoggydog,orevenliningupbesidethemforthemiraculousbirth,which,too,maybecancelledalongwithanyresurrectionsifthedayispredictablysunny,thelandscapereadytoploworpaint,andthestubbornwind,justinfromatsunami,distractedenoughforasail.OtherAssociatedWordsSheltering,Compassion,Fear,RemembranceNote:ThispoemfirstappearedatPoemsofthePandemic,HeadlinePoetry&Press.
InaTimeof‘SocialDistancing,’IMissMyMother byJudithSornbergerOfcourse,shemissedDadwhenhediedandwishedherdaughterslivedcloser,butifshewerealivenow,she’dbefinewiththesedistances—shewhoprizedherowncompanyaswellasanyoneelse’s.Herideaofagoodtimewasloungingonthepatio,herfacetiltedlikeahungrysunflowertosipthesun’sgaze,herheadtippedbackassheexhaledawhisperofsmokefromherVirginiaSlimstowardcloudsmarchingbyinalazyparademoreworthwatchingthananything.Exceptmaybethechitteringchorusofcopperandgraysparrowsshesummonedwithbutteredtoastcrumbsonatinpieplate.Sheknewhowtocallwhatevershemostneededtoherself—pattingherlapsoherBostonterriersprangupandkissedtheredlipstickfromhermouth,thedog’sbuggyeyessobigwithlove,Momhadtolaugh—thatlaugheveryoneloved,theoneshegaveme.Thelaughthatisalwaysbringingherback,callingmehometomyself.OtherAssociatedWordsFamily,Inspiration,Isolation,Lockdown,Loss,Love,Remembrance,Spirit/Spiritual
SOLACEAlways byChristineValtersPaintnerItisalwaysdawnsomewhereonthisforeverturningeartheyesjustnowopening.Itisalwaysmiddaysomeplace,sunatitspeak,alloflifeilluminated.Itisalwaysdusksomewhere,sweetleavingofdayaskingustoembracetheend.Itisalwaysmidnightsomeplace,tenthousanddreamseruptingintothedarkness.Note: This poem is from Christine Valters Paintner’s forthcoming collection TheWisdomofWildGrace (ParacletePress,October2020). It ispublishedhere for thefirsttime.
SPIRIT/SPIRITUALSpiritual byYahiaLababidi So,whatdoesitfeelliketobegrounded,globallysenttoourroomslikeerrantchildrenprivilegessuspendedandtoldtothinkhardaboutwhywegothereandhowtogetout?Tellme,what’syourplan?IIWecan’tsimplyreturntohowwewereafteracrisis—ourhomeshavebecomecocoonsforradicaltransformationOthers’lives,wefinallyrealize,dependonusandviceversa,eitherwechangeourways,now,orperishalone-together...And,ifwesurvive,wemightaskofthisbenevolentmaster:Tellus,whatnewfastcanweaddtoourdaysahead?ThesamewaythatLentorRamadanarespiritualreminders,weshouldconsiderwhatsacrificethispandemicasksofus.Whatextremelimithavewereached,ortrespassed?AsLaozisays:"TurningbackishowtheWaymoves."Don'tbemoanyourfourwalls,givethanks,foryournecessaryisolationandpraytoemergefromthischrysalisintoanewconsciousness.
III
So,whatdoesitmeantobereborn?It'shavingtorelearnthebasics:howtowalk,talkandeat...ourwords
Didyoueverimaginethedaywhenwewouldhavetobetaught,asadults,howtowashourhands...ofoursins?
Timetosit,inhumility,listenandassumethatwe,really,knownothing.
Marcescence byMichelleOrtega No rain falls with the storm, but energy whips throughbranches,paresawaythebrittle,scrubsbarktoawakenbuds.Fallenmeetsbloomwithpentecostalchaos.Theviewfrommybed,thisnewmid-daysoftness(healthyinthepandemic)—myownbreath, a dryadwhisper. Earth never stopped this song;onlynowamIstillenoughtohearit.No words to pray, but each breath drawn beyond my lungsoffered for thosewho step into the next life, unheld, unseen.For those that cling like dry leaves on a tree throughwinter.Forthosebentinthestormwhodonotbreak,butcarefortheoneswhofall.
STRENGTHHymn:AnErasurePoem byDrewMyron
Theseasaredark/grantusstrength/kneelbeside/our/panic/yetagain.
TECHNOLOGYCrown byShannaPowlusWheeler
InFebruary2020,theNationalInstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseases(NIAID)releasedelectronmicroscopeimagesofthenovelcoronavirusSARS-CoV-2.ThepubliccanviewthecolorfulgalleryontheNIAIDFlickrpage.
Infinitesimalgerm,wearenotimmune
toyourmajesty.Ourscientistsbowforhoursbeforethestatuesque
microscopesofourdesigntowatchyousurfacefromourcaptivecells,bloom
inbrilliantyellowclusterslikethepollenofthisspringthatinsistsonlifedespite ourhundredthousanddead.TruetoyourLatinname,yourlittlesunsrise,crown
thehillsofourvelvetycells. Asinframesofstainedglass,youlurkinturquoise,
burntorange,andcoral.Yourdiademswiththeirsignaturespikesofprotein strikeafearlikeworship.Formidablepathogen,whosevirulentformwemagnify—
whosestingwefeel—
evenyouresemblethethornsthatpiercedtheOne whotookourfear.OtherAssociatedWordsFear,Spirit/Spiritual
TOUCHNexttonext byDrewMyronMonthsfromnow,willwesavoramealatourfavoriteplace,ourfacesclose,handsclaspedtight?Willwesharedessert,ourforksnext-to-next,andnotthinktwiceaboutwhathastouched,withwhom,andhow?Andatthehouse,willourfriendsgather?Willweshakehands,patbacks,andhughello?WillIembracemyfatherwithoutfear,andoffermorethanadistantwavetothekindneighborpassing?Tellme,willwekissagain,recklessandsure?
OtherAssociatedWordsConnect/Connection,Family,Fear,Hands,Healing
NotesCover Image: Jeanie Tomanek, “Our Ground Time HereWill Be Brief”, Acrylic onPanel, 16” x 12”. Courtesy of Jeanie Tomanek and The Loft Mariettta. © JeanieTomanek. All Rights Reserved. Please contact The Loft if you are interested inpurchasingTomanek’soriginalpainting:http://www.loftmarietta.comThe capitalizedwordorwords that appear abovepoems’ titles are those that thepoetsselectedfortheirinspiredresponsestothenovelcoronavirus/COVID-19andthethemeofpandemicgenerally.Anyassociatedwordstheyselectedappearafterthe poems. Poems under the headings are organized alphabetically by poets’ lastnames.Martha Silano’s poem, “Van Gogh’s ‘Spring Garden’,” responds to the artist’spainting,andwaswrittenspecificallyforthisproject.
