This amazing poem was read to us this morning during our Coffee with Judy session:
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
By Deborah Twigg
Before the pandemic,
I did not know the flowering tree outside my window is a star magnolia
Or take walks around the grounds of our apartment complex
Or notice, in the symphony of bird songs filling that air, the hoo hoo’s of an owl
Before the pandemic,
I never Zoomed with my elderly parents
Turned a windowsill into a container garden,
Or made my own bread
Before the pandemic,
I mistook a busy calendar for a full life
Broke eye contact with my children too early and often
Never called friends just to talk
Before the pandemic,
I played CNN instead of Bach or Springsteen in our living room
Took for granted singing with other people in church
Let dust accumulate on the closeted case storing my guitar
Before the pandemic,
I never wore a mask
Or imagined the double danger, so attired,
If my skin was darker or my eyes another shape
Before the pandemic,
I never thanked a grocery store employee for stocking shelves
Or contemplated who I owe, perhaps, an apology,
Or forgiveness, should I die in a few days
After the pandemic, if—God willing—I survive it,
I hope I will remember, inwardly and outwardly
What quarantine has taught me:
All that matters
I worked on my coffee mug holder and in the late afternoon we went for a nice brisk walk again.