Sustained Solitude in Covid-19
It’s an old body with a new jacket
That was chosen without consent.
It’s a cool absence of warm auras,
Missing three-dimensional smiles.
Non-human flora & fauna besties
Constant life-affirming presences.
Periodic staving off of surrealism
And fear that this may be the end.
Bjorn is today’s host of dVerse. Bjorn says:
The prompt today is simple, just start from the word solitude and write about it. Try to avoid using the word solitude, but try instead to describe how it feels. Does it even have a scent or a sound?
I really feel the surrealism myself… there is a sense that things have come to a stop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely feel like an ‘old body with a new jacket / That was chosen without consent’. When can I have a new body with my old jacket? I love the lines:
‘It’s a cool absence of warm auras,
Missing three-dimensional smiles.’
Oh yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The longer this goes on, the further away an end seems to feel for me. I have to keep reminding myself that this is not forever.
Love that opening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you. Thank you.
LikeLike
The opening is stunning
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
The pleasure is mine reading your work xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
your closing lines are stunning too. This fear hanging over us like the Sword of Damocles…the end of days, apocalypse now; scary stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Glenn, it feels just that way. Glad you connected with the poem.
LikeLike
Good description of what is missing with virtual meetings: “Missing three-dimensional smiles”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank. It’s nice to have cam connection but not the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great description of what some are going through in this time. Surreal paranoia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dwight. It comes and goes for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do create living images in your poetry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the “without consent” is key. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Cool absence of warm auras”…love it! And this is not the end, just the start of something new.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it, Mary, and thank you for the supportive comment.
LikeLike
I like your poem. Life does feel very surreal sometimes at present. Following on from a conversation we had a while back on another thread – the room clearing spray of Juniper and White Sage arrived in the post this morning. I sprayed my house and felt an immediate lift from the fresh tang of the Juniper. The White Sage wasn’t too heavy but seems to have gently lightened the atmosphere. I feel a little less surreal today. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Suzanne, so glad you found a good mist! Juniper and White Sage sound like a great combination!
Like
Yes it’s lovely. I checked the label. It comes from a company in Florida. It must have been imported from the US before coronavirus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“It’s a cool absence of warm auras” I’ll vouch for that… Good poem Lisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Max, glad you like the poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
short and punchy, nicely told
… I wrote it about solitude in general not the non-consensual one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kate. Will look for yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
….well said and the last lines are perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sreeja, glad you connected with them.
LikeLike
We never let go of fears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose that we need them to stay safe but so many of them weigh on me lately whenever I let them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lockdown depression is the latest challenge for mental health professionals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That last line is so relatable. Oh boy, the fear! I can totally feel i t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not a good feeling. What compounds it are things like the group that keeps storming our capitol building (with weapons) and demands the governor end the lockdown.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow, that’s horrible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michigan’s Capitol building has an open-carry policy, which means that spectators in the legislative sessions can open-carry. What happened recently was a group of 400-700 protestors, some armed, were beating on the doors when the session was closed to spectators due to the volatile nature of what was happening, which was the legislature either supporting or not supporting Governor Whitmer’s decision to keep most places shut down in the state due to Covid-19.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG, that’s so horrible! Some people are just awful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa, one of your best. Stunning in its starkness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, thank you. What’s probably the worst aspect of it is the thing I cherish probably more than anything has taken an ominous turn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that our new best friends are flora and fauna! Personally, I am really enjoying that part of our solitude. A wonderful poem Lisa 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christine, thank you. Same here!
LikeLike
Considering the abstract can offer a new perspective on an overwhelming situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, practical suggestion, Ken, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
kaykuala
It’s an old body with a new jacket
That was chosen without consent.
Vert apt opening, Jade! We never asked for it but trussed unto us. It is how we make it out to be! Many are happy with the new found opportunity!
Hank
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your comment, Hank.
LikeLike
“Old body with a new jacket” was a perfect opening to this surreal view of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sara.
LikeLike
Apt opening, apt closing and apt in between too! Solitude is wonderful in small doses and when it is voluntary but forced solitude for prolonged period can have not asked for repercussions! Very well written, Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your understanding, Punam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Li. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person