Pandemic

It was a faraway word

a word from other continents

we guessed at its meaning

without being sure

 

we know what it means now

 

it means loneliness

perfect, sweet loneliness

 

it is the sound of planeless skies

carless roads

muffled coughs

nervous laughter

 

it is an oversized hopscotch grid

drawn on tar with glow-chalk

 

it is late nights

and late mornings

family crawling races

the sting

of carpet-burned knees

 

it is home cooking and home schooling

love sent by text

calm sent down phonelines

 

it is kitchen window raindrop races

as the seasons shift

and winter lands in March