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Scott Burden Poem
It is okay to mourn
the rapid speed by which this treacherous virus
caught us off guard
Now we cope, we survive, some better than others
And for so many, too many
the dignity of dying has been denied
After a life long-lived, you were left to meet the great beyond alone
cut off from those who were in your precious circle
We grieve for you
We grieve for lost moments and time that cannot be recaptured
Crowded malls, movie theater lines, standing sweaty shoulder to shoulder
in packed concert halls and bars
nodding simultaneously to familiar tunes
We grieve the mundane, predictability of our former world
Crammed in trains with intoxicated hockey fans en route to the big game
We mourn the cold we braved together
the obnoxious fans of the other team
the homeless percussionist banging out beats for bread
on their white, plastic bucket snare drum
The fairs and festivals
The planes and anticipation of travel and adventures to come
I miss you deeply
my flawed, beautiful human society of the pre-virus days
I am sickened by what this virus has done to us
You made us divided and filled our heads with wild conspiracies
You kept us trapped in our echo chambers
You drove us apart when we most needed to stick together
You wore out our battle wearied soldiers of the front line
risking it all to keep us well
to be a last connection to the human world before fading into eternity
We can never forget what you have meant for us all
It is okay to grieve my beautiful people
We will
one day
be given back some version of our former world
it will look and feel different
We will have lost great people along the way
there are more days to fight
God speed.
Copyright © Scott Burden | Year Posted 2020
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Details |
Scott Burden Poem
Families
awkward phone call
answers
family dinner, funeral, wedding, graduation...
strained, uneasy voice, barely recognizes name on list
Can you make it?
wanting acceptance, warmth...love?
black sheep, barely holding on to family tree
branches...straining, cracking,
mother dies, weakens the branch
grandma dies, weakens the branch
cousin dies, weakens the branch
brother dies, weakens the branch
who are you?
faces ask the question
I mean...
how have you been?
hugs, smiles, questions
meant to welcome, recover lost time
standing in kitchen, watching coffee drip
examining photos on refrigerator
reading circled dates on calendar
nervous fingers caress cutlery drawer
awkward
feelings of childhood insecurity come rushing back
who should I be?
who do they expect me to be?
trying conversation
failing badly
not smart enough, sophisticated enough, worldly enough, not...
not sure what
but lacking
I steal a glance at the microwave clock
family catches me
time to go?
no
eyes of uncles watching me madly
eyes of aunts looking down sadly
cookies?
more coffee?
Distracted by background hymn
"What song is this?"
name of artist I wouldn't know
of course
passing around cheese I wouldn't know
of course
pouring glass of wine from year I wouldn't appreciate
or country I'd never visit
acutely aware that I am underdressed
under classed
eyes asking why is he here? right
the blood
eyes jump from me to clock
was there a hint in that look?
forcing a smile
inside
screaming
clawing
crying
punching
swearing
fake laugh at joke I didn't get
trying to act interested in stories from that side of the tracks
trying to steady dry working hands
checks and hides dirty finger nails
damn
did they notice?
it's getting late
I should go soon
murmuring voices silenced
eyes wander to my declaration
hugs and handshakes hasten my departure
hope to see you soon, keep in touch, blah, blah
useless last minute pity talk
puts on shoes
last look at relieved eyes
walks to car
parks down the street
covers face
cries for hours
families.
Copyright © Scott Burden | Year Posted 2020
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