The poetic side to this perilous moment

Australian-born Katrin Talbot, a violist, photographer, and poet, who is well-known in Madison and the wider world as well, has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with poetry. I find her words make it easier to think about our new normal where so much is suddenly unthinkable.  Shared with permission.

. . . 

Between

Here,

we’re all walking

 

No lockdown yet, . . .

gyms are closed,

swimmers drowning on dry land,

everyone planking

 

The circling buzzards are 

interested in the sudden increase

in population beneath

 

And we're getting it down,

the Sidewalk Arc —

oncoming tight smile and wave,

sidestep to measure 

six feet between 

 

We’re following the rules

suggested by thousands of experts

 

And now I say to all,

as an expert in matters of the heart,

send not worry in the passing,

just light —

arrows, vectors, flattening curves of it,

imaginary orbs

 

but no matter what,

to your neighbors,

a certain kind of

 

radiance

Comments

[Mark Golbach]

I've been waiting for you to post this, and I'm not disappointed. A beautiful poem about an awful situation. Thank you Katrin.

[Kris P]

Lovely!

[Kristin]

Beautiful. Thank you!

[Lisa at Greenbow]

This about covers it all.

[Barbara H.]

Well said!!!