Carolyn Devonshire Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

 

Losing It

in 

Isolation

Losing It In Isolation

I’m losing it; you know I am

When I ask myself questions, then answer them out loud
     And consider this a “conversation”

When the lizard that made his way into my home
    Becomes my pet

When I repeatedly count the cards in my deck
    Because I can’t win at solitaire

When my first thought as a hurricane nears
     Is fear of virus transmissions in evacuation shelters

When each day is much like the last
    And I wake in bed, not knowing if it’s day or night

When I haven’t seen family for eight months
    My skin starts to itch; my hands shake and twitch

When I’m told I’ll have to quarantine
     If I want to visit sick family members

When I hear fear in my sister’s voice
     As she tells me New Jersey's second wave has begun

When I manicure my lawn obsessively
     With scissors instead of a mower

When my list of prayerful intentions
     Takes an hour to review

When the noise crickets make
     Starts sounding like a symphony and I look forward to their nightly
     performance

I’m losing it; you know I am




Written July 29, 2020
For Chantelle’s “Isolation Philosophy” contest

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Jack Horne August 9, 2020 at 4:25 AM yes, many can relate to this one, for sure - hope this is/was a big winner, hon x

Connie Marcum Wong August 6, 2020 at 10:53 AM This is so good Carolyn. I think we can all relate. I love the line about the cricket’s sounding like a symphony. I bet this is a top winner. Blessings xxoo

Gershon Wolf August 4, 2020 at 5:26 PM Yup. Yours is the voice of many of us, Carolyn. For me, the worst of it is all the days melting into each other. This week's been especially bad for some reason... Oh, well: 'The new normal.' Phooey. lol. Sunlight and Moonbeams, Gershon

Sara Kendrick August 4, 2020 at 5:48 AM Good one. What many of us are experiencing. Thanks for the visit to my page. We are all okay considering all that is going on. Sara

Heidi Sands August 2, 2020 at 6:25 PM Wow so well written and I agree that many can relate to this. There is aloneness...in life...isolation at times ...etc..but this isolation and distancing due to virus pandemic is a whole other story...especially when it is this contagious ..fatal and with no end in sight. Great poem Carolyn. :)

Paul Callus August 2, 2020 at 3:28 PM I love how you treated this serious topic with a dash of wittiness, Caroline. Living on your own makes the situation even worse. Hold on in there, lady! Congratulations on your win. Hugs // paul Carolyn Devonshire August 3, 2020 at 11:45 AM Sometimes laughter helps us cope. At least Isaias didn't make landfall in Florida, but it may become a hurricane again as it heads for the Carolinas. Thanks for reading, Paul.

Gordon Mcconnell August 2, 2020 at 5:52 AM Great pen Carolyn you tell it in a way a lot of folk are feeling. Nice piece! Take care and keep safe,Blessings,Gordon

Aditi Mishra August 2, 2020 at 1:03 AM This is such an intesne description of what many of us have been going through during this pandemic. The creeping anxieties of being unable to see our families, not knowing when things will be alright is taking a toll on our minds. Hope you are well Carolyn. Take care. Congratulations on your win! Blessings and love :)

Silent One August 1, 2020 at 9:10 AM I think many will relate, because it is difficult... Solitude can be a blessing and a curse..

Anne-Lise Andresen August 1, 2020 at 7:19 AM - Back with a congratulations ... well deserved, Carolyn :) - Have a safe and lovely weekend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Mystic Rose Rose July 31, 2020 at 2:34 PM Ah, your poem is so intense dear Carolyn, and I can so relate to the solitary feelings. Prayers of well being are being sent to you, xo

Kim Rodrigues July 31, 2020 at 2:04 PM Me too! Hugs! Big hugs!

Andrea Dietrich July 31, 2020 at 1:54 PM very well written from your perspective, Carolyn. Great descriptions for anxiety. You should win with one like this!

Lindsay Laurie July 30, 2020 at 4:43 PM Hello Carolyn ... perhaps this is the new normal, but I am reading about more and more sad cases due to isolation. I enjoyed your verse Carolyn before thinking perhaps I'm behaving weirdly now - thanks Carolyn - Lindsay

Joseph P. DiMino July 30, 2020 at 2:30 PM Yep! Stir crazy. Well said, Carolyn. You have a lot of company, here and around the world.

Ilene Bauer July 30, 2020 at 1:29 PM i think we can all relate, carolyn! you've done a masterful job of describing life these days. best of luck in the contest...

Rico Leffanta July 30, 2020 at 1:01 PM Unfortunately, you live in a country where the majority of people do not understand, "pandemic" and, with a leader searching for answers on a Ouija Board whilst firing experts and replacing them with toadies, that is unlikely to change. Look at Viet Nam proudly boasting zero infections for months on end which do end with one infection impacting cities! I do hope poetry keeps you stimulated! Stay safe! Aloha! Rico

Alexis Y. July 30, 2020 at 12:01 PM Hi Carolyn, You have captured the feeling of “ isolation “ very well. We all can relate in some way. I can’t wait for COVID-19 to be a thing of the past. Well done. I wish you the best in the contest. Have a good day :-) Alexis

Judy Ball July 30, 2020 at 8:30 AM This made me smile Carolyn. Cutting the lawn with scissors, hmmm haven't done that yet but I have woken up and not known what day it was or if it was day or night. Prayers often take me awhile, and I have always found the songs of tree frogs and crickets music to my ears. Gee I must have been 'round the bend for awhile. Loved this. God Bless and hang in there Baby. JB Carolyn Devonshire July 30, 2020 at 9:45 AM Glad to hear you can relate, Judy. Thanks for reading.

Anne-Lise Andresen July 30, 2020 at 6:49 AM - New waves ... more fear ... maybe no one can win ... it's horrible - A powerful poem, Carolyn - Best wishes in the contest - hugs & love // Anne-Lise :) Carolyn Devonshire July 30, 2020 at 9:53 AM If we ever do make it beyond the pandemic, perhaps we will appreciate the "normal" way of life more. Thanks for you kind comment.

Tom Cunningham July 30, 2020 at 1:09 AM You're certainly not alone Carolyn, have only just seen my daughter after three months, yes, we facetimed but its not the same, I said to my family they should be looking to history re the spanish flu, lo and behold they have started seeing similarities, second wave etc, whats worrying is that the second wave of that was more deadly than the first, hang in there. Tom Carolyn Devonshire July 30, 2020 at 10:03 AM Yes, I do fear the second wave will be worse than the first, Tom. Facetiming isn't the same, but it sounds like an option I should explore. If I don't see any family in 2020, it will feel like a wasted year. Living alone is often tough, but more so now than ever before. Thanks for reading, Tom.

Robert L. Hinshaw July 29, 2020 at 5:34 PM You covered it all, Carolyn! Stay safe from the virus and potential hurricane! A top winner for the contest for sure! - Bob Carolyn Devonshire July 30, 2020 at 10:07 AM Thanks, Bob. I hope you are staying well also.

Vijay Pandit July 29, 2020 at 2:17 PM The voice of your poem reaches out to the entire world my friend--in some form everyone is feeling the emotions you have captured in this thoughtful write. Manicuring lawn with scissors is a perfect metaphor .. people feel locked in..people need escape..we need to feel productive..awesome write, Carolyn. I am saving this in my FAVES. Carolyn Devonshire July 29, 2020 at 2:28 PM I'm glad you could relate, Vijay. There are times when I wonder how everyone is coping. Thanks for your kind words, my friend.