The Coronavirus passes through hands.
We switch to elbow hellos, or germs might
infect our lungs, then subsequently band
us to separate. Not an end in sight.

The longer we stay home, we long to look
forward to school, to work, to the wide sky.
While now we have more time to read a book,
we sing, meet zoom chat. From danger we hide.

Spring sun sends strong rays, soon perfectly bent
toward earth to burn up the curse. Now we need
prayers for a cure, healing. Why heaven-sent?
Spare our friends, family! We’ll change! Godspeed.

Generous humans, selfless acts, we wait.
Doing the right thing outside heaven’s gate.

— Judith Brenner, March 2020