The abecedarian

by ellen gilbert…..

The abecedarian is a form used by certain poets to tackle cultural subjects and the inadequacy of language when faced with a great disaster.

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Archives of 2020 (thanks to Nicole)

bring myriad responses like a 

COVID escape to new locales and 

dreams of bull snakes in bed and

even the dignity of life alone.

Feeling both desire and inertia as a

grandma becomes a Box Ma with 

hope from an app called Twitch.

Imagine being in the eye of eternity with

just curiosity and fear,

knowing that the vaccine has an ego. We’re

looking forward to looking back

minus masks. Beginning in the middle but

needing food security. An

obnoxiously enthusiastic announcer is

permanently unable to process anything.

Quite reality bending, isn’t it? An ode to

really being a free agent who

seeks order and finds wonder –

though that would be enough (dayenu).

Uncertain journeys can put us back on the beach, so

very settling if we’re present with our feelings.

We can’t mend what’s not confronted and

‘xcuses evaporate as COVID hasn’t disappeared.

Your last expiration is only a dream and you

zero in on daily goodness and gratitude.