Andrew's View of the Week

And here we are
alone with our fears
doing a jigsaw puzzle
while rain gently falls.

And here we are
isolated
and in need of mother’s
hugs and kisses.

Fear that blows
from CNN
pushes us deeper into the cave
where only thoughts remain.

How did Damocles come to
sit under a sword?
How do we escape
to taste the sun?

———————-

Today even church was closed.  Churches rushed to the internet to try and maintain some sense of normal.  We watched morning service streamed through my computer and displayed on the TV. We sat in our PJs with our tea while the music played. During this time of isolation we struggle to maintain community and hold unrestrained fear at bay.

Last night we started a jigsaw puzzle.  It’s Van Gogh painting, Wheat Field with Cypresses.  We bought it from a museum where we saw an exhibit of Gauguin (one naturally buys Van Gogh after seeing Gauguin).  It’s a difficult puzzle – lots of sky, swirling colors and oddly shaped pieces.

A bit like life with covid-19 in the world.

Thursday my company sent us to work from home.  Thursday night our HR director sent an email telling us to continue to work from home until … someday.

Today I’ve been working on preparing my taxes.  I wonder if they’ll cancel April 15th too.

In between reconciling accounts I’ve been considering what to write today.  What do you say in times likes these? Words of comfort? Words of pain? Rage? Anger?

I rejected a number of ideas, including, “How to Prepare for the Apocalypse” and “Alternatives to Toilet Paper.”

There should be a poem with all the right words.  Ones that express the complex feelings floating around my head.

When I find those words, I’ll write them.  Until then, there’s a puzzle to complete and living the best we can.