A Poem: COVIDeer

Photo courtesy of  Shaun Whalen - thanks, Shaun! 

COVIDeer

She grazes close to the house

on her own

feeding on the new spring grass

She eats

ears flicking

then picks up her head, looks around

listens

her ears unmoving

She bends again

eats another mouthful

then again

her head comes up and she looks around

a sound spooks her

and she runs across the low end of the field

behind the chicken coop and the shed

but she’s not running fast

just enough

just in case

She pauses along the far side of the yard

where the grass is growing long and green already

bends down to eat

walks forward

stands and looks around 

for the longest time

walks

and eats

and listens

and looks

Her journey is moments

relaxed grazing

to nourish her body

total alertness

to keep herself safe

graceful and watchful

in equal measure

Ears and eyes tuned to the world 

what was that?

do I need to pay attention?

do I need to run?

or stand quietly?

am I safe here?

And I think

she is

us

our pandemic journey is moments

tweets and posts and videos

watching numbers rise and fall

walking alone

staying close to home

but ever vigilant

for danger

listening

observing

do I comment?

or stay quiet?

gracious and malicious

in equal measure

A virus stalks us

hunting us down

in the air

without a sound

Our eyes and ears are tuned to the world

are we safe here?

We are

the deer

~ SJ, April 26, 2021