Another Day in Paradise 2020
By Keri Hakan
In a quick rain; I am alone.
I am not without friends, neighbors or family.
I am alone in a new world
of masks, no touching and
inside voices.
I am a fortunate one.
I have a home,
a cloth mask, a soft voice.
Somewhere out there in a cold rain—
I have a friend playing guitar,
another writing poetry; and
another sipping coffee wishing it was with me.
Somewhere—
Out there— Alone.
A bird in the Maple sings me through the rain,
exposes itself with water rolling
off its wings.
Kids yell their words
from the closed off courtyard
so we know they are alive.
The man on SE Pardee street—
drunk and dirty— does the same.
I’ll sit quiet for now,
save my voice for next year and
love the bird as if
it was mine.