If this virus has shown us anything,

it is that we are all connected.

 

Our hug

Which I miss so very much

is resisted

so I don’t also hug

your mother,

sister,

brother,

child.

 

Your kitchen table,

which has supported our elbows

over long hours of

tea and talk

has to be

alien territory  to me

for this while,

for the air

shared,

could pass

sickness

from my exhale

to your inhale,

to the places

where we both work.

And whilst I get paid,

even when I am sick,

that child

has parents who don’t,

who have no security,

no safety net

and so would fall straight through

to poverty and debt

from our

kitchen table chat.

 

It is not only that we ,

small bundles of longing and flesh,

are connected,

but

haven’t we seen

how supply chains

for that much needed PPE,

have woven silken nets

crossing borders

and bureauracy?

Aren’t we all wearing sweatshop masks

to keep us safe

whilst those who make them

cough and sweat?

 

And schools must stay open,

inspite of the data

on transmission rates

amongst hopeful teens

who,

robbed of newly felt freedoms

carry on

as far as possible,

oblivious.

for without schools

parents cannot work.

All those years

of degrees and debt

and we see clearly,

teachers are baby sitters

for the economy.

 

Even our grounded cars,

which hibernate

as we commute on foot,

to our lonely fridge,

are connected  to the world in their rusting.

Their stasis

disconnects us from angry motorways,

allowing the skies to breathe

freed of fumes,

and suddenly we hear the birds

who no longer battle

against the roar.

 

This virus

skipped from

beast

to

human

to

the streets

to

the plane

to

the skies

to

the world.

 

Our tiny,

turning,

connected,

shared,

world.

 

When the caterpillar

cocoons,

it doesn’t just sprout wings,

it dissolves

into a soup

containing

imaginal discs

which reform,

weaving and growing in new ways

to emerge

into the fragile

spring sun

to fly

connecting to

petal,

scent,

breeze.

 

How will we emerge

from our dissolving?

Which connections will we let wither?

Which will we help thrive

so that all the world,

can

fly?

 

 

 

 

If you enjoyed reading this please share it with friends. You might also be interested in talking to me about coaching , or maybe try some of my online courses (some are free), or treat yourself to a climate protecting pamper with vegan friendly, organic Tropic which supports the planting of forests and education in deprived areas.
Thanks for being here.
Julie