In times of Physical Isolation…

light of a clear blue morning /

lapsed first half-marathon /

pink moon /

raindrops on roses /

golden gorse and meadow snoozes /

windowpane rainbows /

empty picnic tables /

hollow, whistling wind /

oblivious mallards /

pleading hands /

a new normal? /

Beacon of Hope /

bridges, seeking /

PB & J among daffodils /

street art /

vessel at standstill /

holding back gaze and greetings from towpath wanderers, on edge /

homemade hummus with sweet cherry tomatoes and cilantro, or coriander as they say /

calls with Papa and Grams, tucked away in warm Bethesda brick /

my updates across the ocean ride a new wave of emotion every hour/

yearnings, yearnings for home /

find a job! before hiring freezes settle in, recession—

it’s no time for euphemisms here: depression /

fatigued in the morning, weary too early /

books to plow through, clear the shelf! suitcase stress /

podcasts = productivity = forward /

walking lectures in the morning, gritted teeth, swishing ponytail, importance /

Syria, Mexico, Colombia > displacement, narcos, murder /

no room for self-pity here,

safe in my flat with fresh daisies and flickering tealights /

cleaning, cleaning again. Satisfaction… /

Start essays, don’t start essays/ too much time, not enough time /

premature goodbyes, cheated time /

but as she said in September, time never belonged to us to begin with /

am I ready for goodbyes?