poem April 7 We Did Not Die

I think there might be more to add to this one before the end, but here is a first run...

We Did Not Die

We did not die

we stayed in our homes

on our couches 

on our chairs

on our porches and balconies and gardens

we watched TV

and we read books 

and we played games

and we watered our plants

and we took walks

and we loved our pets

and we did not die

We watched the news and we were scared

we stopped watching the news because we were scared

we binge watched series

and recommended movies

and shared clips

and watched netflix while face timing

and played internet games with each other

and took zoom meetings

and we did not die

We missed each other

we missed being able to see smiles

we missed sharing hands

we missed hugs

we missed meals together

we missed celebrations together

we missed dancing together

we missed winks and little touches

we missed sitting shoulder to shoulder 

we missed the way we smell

we missed breathing together 

we missed silence

and we did not die

We chatted daily

and looked each other in the eye

and got to know each other differently

and got to know each there’s pets

and got to know who was a cleaner

and who was a fixer

and who was a teacher

and who was a reader

and who was a poet

and who was crafty

and who was a baker

and who was willing to try

and who was ok with alone

and who was not ok with alone

and we reached out 

and we did not die

We stayed home because they told us to

we stayed home because it was the right thing to do

we stayed home to help the ones we love

we stayed home to help the ones who were loving the ones we love

we stayed home because it was the best thing we could do to help

we stayed home because it was the only thing we could do to help

we stayed home because we were afraid for ourselves

we stayed home because we were afraid for each other

we stayed home because we were afraid 

and some days we were brave

and we went to the grocery store or the pharmacy

and some days we were brave

and we got takeout

and emptied it onto our own plates

and waved to delivery people through windows

and some days we were afraid 

and we did not

and some days we went out to help others

and we did not die.

We loved

everyone

because there was no reason not to

because everyone became the same

because everyone became less important

and more important

we huddled together as best we could

waiting together for the day

when we could be together

and we lived

and we did not die

khfc