Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
Lynn Ungar
6 comments:
and still there are people who think the authorities shutting everything down is a gross misuse of power and still those who think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion and others who think it should just be allowed to run rampant because business is more important. and Trump, all he does is get in front of the camera and complain about how he's being treated by the media and no one is giving him credit for the great job he's doing.
What a beautiful poem. I read it somewhere else in the last week but it didn't resonate then, now it does.
An excellent graphic, clearly demonstrating the process of infection. Elsewhere I used the phrase "geometric progression" to explain the same matter. But you have the drop on me.
Beautiful poem and excellent graphic. Take care there and stay well.
yes, poignant poem for our times. It is what I am trying to do: find the silver lining. It's an exercise each and every day.
Stay well and best wishes for keeping your spirits up.
My brother sent me that chart. I was trying to figure out how to post it. I'm so happy that you have. Its visual is such a powerful demonstration of why we are living in socially separate pods. Thank you.
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