Herding Cats

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath –
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel
Cease from buying and selling
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become till,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another's hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
here we cannot touch.

Promise this word your love ‒
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we shall live.

"Pandemic" Lynn Ungar, 3/11/20

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