pandemic poems

The front window-sills of houses
In Noe Valley,
San Francisco’s
High-end suburb on the hill
Above the Mission,
Are galleries for
Placards these days.

Held fast to pane glass with Scotch Tape
Are tack-board admonishments
To neighbours unnerved by
The continued march of Corona,
Bearing words that soothe:

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.
WE WILL SURVIVE.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.

And then, Mister
Teddy Bear makes his appearance.

Stuffed wool, thread and varnished button eyes
Comprises our friend’s being.
Little Teddy sits
In the window-sill of a house
Soaking up the morning sun,
Just chilling, passing small
Children on Jersey Street
Enjoy his cute, adorable,
Calming presence. Tiny fingers point up to their find:

Little Teddy
Kicking it, calm and lounging
Next to a hand-drawn
Placard, reminding block residents
What Hunter’s Point, Sunnydale,
Seminary, Eastmont and I
Have always known to be fact:

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

A child’s bed-time companion
Moved on up
To the front of the house.
He’s on constant display
Like a hard-plastic preening
Mannequin in Neiman Marcus’
Store-front window,

There in the window-sill
As a plush symbol
For these strange days,
Where breathing the air
Without a masque on
Around others
Is unhealthy.

Little Teddy
Reassures us
That these days
Don’t have to be scary.
He tells us
Non-verbally
That if we stay safe,
If we keep our connections
Despite the isolation,
Despite the miles,

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.

________________________
W: Summer Solstice 2020

*ITALIAN: “Little bear”.