THE PARTING- EPILOGUE

hope, opaque light, reunion

Rough seas assuage

subtle fog

faces concealed with cloth

awaken to a ghostly city

albeit, hesitant movement, unsteady

as prisoners' deaths rise

distance demands

one's fervor to fly

like cooped up birds of prey

takes priority over all else

flocks of birds' salvation

Emotions unbolted

hurry to taste the rain

soak the sun

sense the buds, smog

sweat of the city

Bizarre is the normal for us

rousing, prior to lockup

as it is, eager

a fresh smell, touch, passion

like strangers anew

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and hopefully that rain won't set us back again. This poem so well describes the impatience most have to get back to socializing, moving freely, not having speech muffled by masks...but safety and health has to come first...we can only fly if we have the strength, and most importantly are still alive to do it.
Yes, we will all be "strangers anew" once we get back together.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Ah Jacob, spot on again! This is such a conundrum, so difficult to make decisions about how to socialize; but afraid to say this may go on go quite some time: but my epilogue draws the lovers back , at once strangers
......Then....

[barleygirl]

Excellent abundant vivid details to describe the world "out there" that people have been missing & craving. I remember when I saw China all masked up a few times prior to this particular pandemic, in awe that people could live that way en masse. I never dreamed it would become a worldwide thing, but now I suspect it may be a new normal. I'm lucky becuz I learned to be isolated these past 10 years & ended up loving it. But most people cannot thrive in isolation, so I very much feel for how hard this is & you've done a great job of making us feel the yearning & all the things being yearned for! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Betty Hermelee]

Wow, Margie, great review; i am able to take some isolation, but now I feel a bit trapped, yet also fearful of too much socializing; a conundrum!
Thanks again, Betty

[emmajoy]

I so understand the words you've offered here, Betty, especially, ' Emotions unbolted - hurry to taste the rain - soak the sun - sense the buds, smog - sweat of the city.' Think we're all feeling caged, unused to being able to make choices.. but.. but, but life is also what it is. We have to cope, try to adapt, keep going and more at the ready, do things we'dforgotten to do: phone a friend.. talk at a distance to someone known as lonely.. read stories to children.. turn pages of memories.. and so forth. Life is a schedule we slip into over time.. and that saps freedom too. Perhaps? See, we get there at the end, even in words, wondering, ' eager - a fresh smell, touch, - passion - like strangers anew. '

Such a special piece of writing, both sadness and- a view of what will be, perhaps differently but.. hopefully - fully in hope. xx

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks, Emma, a lovely review

[emmajoy]

You're very welcome, Betty Wishing you well and safe.

[Dave Brown]

I saw a humorous video, addressing the time it could take to get back to normal.
It related to the length of time it could take for kids to get back into school again and showed them all sitting at their desks, each one now in deep their 60's
Hope your bizarre concern doesn't come close to that

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks for reading! I hope it won't come to that (ha ha), but who knows what's coming our way right??

[LJ]

I agree with Jacob. I want to add that I like your use of alliteration, the better to make a point.
We can't call places "open" when that's so counterproductive, and we now have other fish to fry.
Everything is changing and writers will change with it, because most writers observe and notice, then keep it alive with written words...
...as do you here.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks LJ, a nice analysis of my poem!

[Patricia Wedel]

What happened to Drive-In Theaters outside...
where the families brought their pillows pillows and kids wore their Jammies.
We need fresh Air and being around people... but not too close. Bring your own Drinks and Pop Corn... We gave up too many Outdoor activities and we
need fresh Air. truly, Pat

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes indeed, but with some caution!

[Patricia Wedel]

My granddaughter Maddie is on a girls softball team and they had practice recently on a field outside. She will be thirteen in July and she misses school and so many activities , including Church and being in the Band in school. We can only pray that life will be more sociable by next school year. Take care and be safe. Gently, Pat

[Dara]

Your images are so vivid and the desire to break free from this period of isolation palpable! To return to normal seems almost painstakingly slow (for some of us more cautious souls) but hopefully it will be done with great care the first time so we needn’t face another round. Sadly there are those who seem to dismiss the warnings by experts and are going all out. Now with the protesting and rioting expanding the country, well Heaven help us all. This is a wonderful piece of writing though!

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you so much Dara; YES, the world, but mostly the USA is like a crumbling building: killer virus, inept leader (that's being nice!) and now rioting and chaos; how much more can be bear??
Thanks for reading, Fondly, Betty

[Fabian G. Franklin]

An excellent representation of what many must be feeling at the moment. Your word choice and structure are succinct and your poem ends with a breath of gentle hope. This is good writing. I enjoyed the read.

[Betty Hermelee]

Wow, great review; thank you so kindly,
Betty