Within Walls
Microscopic menace meandering on the wind
Hanging in droplets of life’s sweet breath
Invisible sentinels posted by the door
Ready to pounce and possess
Even the most benevolent visitors –
Mail, meal, or grocery deliverers
Are now suspect
All attempts to touch are forsaken –
Seen as tantamount to suicidal
We wait out elevators until solo passage is possible
And yet, once safely ensconced
One cannot escape the lingering passenger – Despair
Knowing many will not escape: scathed survivors – scattered ash
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One cannot escape the flame of fury
The jowl-burning bile of disgust
Anger towards those who propagate and propel death
Through willful-ignorance-born and bigotry-led disobedience
None are immune and few are innocent
But care and compassion and the desire to hold on
To help and hold together
Are what we have left
Hold these jewels dear
We are within walls
But love for all must radiate globally
We are in instead of out
But are all in it together
Be well
Hold on
There is more than menace dancing on the wind
There is also Hope
And Hope can find a home wherever it is blown
And wherever it lands
Let Hope land on your tongue and dissolve
Rushing towards you heart
Let yourself breathe Hope into your lungs
Let it cover you head to toe
Let it be your food, your garb, your elixir
Let Hope be your strength
Listen to it tell when it tells you to stay safe
When it tells you to keep others safe
Then – Spread Hope
(The opposite of disease)
In whatever way you can
Use your gifts-
Your art, your will and enthusiasm
Spread Hope
Give Hope
Be Hope
Abide in the shelter of Hope with all humanity
Until the doors reopen
Michael Sindler is a writer in many genres who lives in Denver.