Crystal halos

(for an old college friend, Terry – stay well, my friend; I will see you on the safe side of summer)

‘Crystal Halos’

This morning, a bird woke me with insistent calls

of “Pick me, pick me,” outside my window

I sat barefoot on the porch

watched light shimmy down from tree tops

to run along the ground

I wondered how many friends and family

might not come through this pandemic with me

I decided to mourn while we’re still living

I thought how I would gladly move home to Indiana

if all my friends could live around me

but my southern friends may not enjoy the cold

We could reside in a neighborhood

of coffeehouses, bookstores and parks

the year would only have three seasons

Winter would visit only on special nights

when we missed the hush of snowfall

crystal halos around street lights

Our breaths fogging between friends in cold night air

letting us know we’re still alive

3-29-20