Dashed to the corner,
shuffled with the crowd
as the stitches came undone.

Down came the edict:
Everyone get inside,
stay quiet, discontinue contact.

In other words,
hunker down
so long.

Dawns days of dialing into
distant frequencies.
Bob your head to the beat.

In other words,
let the air out
of the balloon
slowly, child.

Ducking out in the dark.
Waving to the shadows.
Signs of spring,
a sea of closed doors.

In other words,
for now.

In other words,
how’s it all gonna turn out?

In other words,
another world.

(3/14 & 3/15/2020 – Gregory Street, Madison, Wisconsin)