Covid Diary Poem by RIC BASTASA

another day, another night,
despite the dogs and the cats,
and the garden and barbecue,
despite the sunflowers and
Beethoven music, coupled with
hauser cellos,
the change of having to live
and observe this quarantine,
has not seeped in my being
naturally, there is still this
resistance of a child who is being
held by mama to always stay at home,
not to talk to strangers, and
wash my hands, keep my feet clean
not to play outside,
and so on and so forth,

another night, another darkness
coming in the sky, another
attentive listening to the coming
winds and chirping birds,
and a little noise in the kitchen
and then the silence of the dogs
and cats, and the sleepy birds,
and the stillness of the winds,
and the closing of light,
as we then gather inside the room,
for another family prayer.