Pandemic Poem 1 Poem by Katrina Harms

I will not speak of
Living at the speed of disease-
all age, it will enrage you
I wrote a string quartet at the edge of dawn-
"We don't have time, " they said,
How could they understand
I stand inside of a forest
We are all lost in our separate worlds now
Slowing to the speed of pandemic,
We creep through silent copses
Sensing unseen predators
We will never unlearn these fears.
You will not write to me and I wonder-
Do we move at the speed of love, whatever that is,
Like mountains slow and ancient-
The forest is lonely and I imagine the
Quick hum of a hummingbird wing if
Ever you were near