Flags in the Neighborhood by Diane Lincoln 2018
Diane Lincoln
The following poems were written during the 2020 Quarantine.
Aseptic Responses was selected by the St. Charles Arts Council.
Out of the Way
I forgot how hard it was to be a child.
"Stay out of the way,"
My dad would say.
He didn't want me in his way
He didn't want me to be hurt
Watching from a safe distance
Was a difficult thing to do.
Fully grown now
I feel the same
I want to help
But know that the best thing to do
Is stay safely out of the way.
In the Shadows
Unseen monsters lurk beyond the door.
We protect and distance ourselves.
Inside, in safety we wait
Anxious, aimless, helpless.
We pray for heroes on the front lines
To have strength, know-how and supplies.
Sympathy for victims
And fear for the future
Rip at our emotions.
Perpetually aware
Of loved ones on hold
We attempt to fill our days
Alone.
The killer will steal your breath.
Not knowing where it hides,
We avoid crowds
And stay six feet apart.
The hearts of children out of school
Long for friends and lessons.
Our family and friends cannot visit.
We wash our hands, wear gloves,
Wipe surfaces and breathe through masks.
Will we ever blow out candles
On a birthday cake again?
Limited View
Dark days
Inhabit my space.
Through the window
Seasons change.
Ambulances scream.
An unseen demon
Mercilessly
Limits the view