In this pandemic atmosphere, the mask has become a topic. I’ve been blessed with gifts of masks, so I’m building up a collection. There is now a place in my laundry room where I hang masks, so I can quickly grab one on the way out. On Instagram a friend posted a photo of herself wearing a stylish animal print mask, and this poem came to me. David Harrison suggested “mask” as the word on the month on his blog.
My mask collection
grows like hats on a hatrack or
scarves in my closet;
I can select one to match my mood:
yellow dotted daisy on teal blue,
blue sky with maps of the world,
or plain white cotton. A multitude
of coverings for Covid season.Margaret Simon, draft
I will put one on
to express my love
for you
and you
with sunflowers
on a background of green—
a quilt for a smile.
The invitation to write #PoemsofPresence is still open. Post on Twitter and/or in this padlet.
Reflections on the Teche 
Love that ending, Margaret! It’s hard to cover our smiles, and strange that it is an expression of love. But it is.
What a great idea for a poem. Someday, this will need to be in the anthology that comes out of these times. I found myself (because I’m in a house of 6) announcing the new places for worn masks in need of a wash and clean masks. What strange things to need to have. But, I believe in wearing them. Thanks for a great poem. ‘coverings for Covid season’ great line.
“A quilt for a smile.” 🙂 I’ve been thinking a lot lately about whether other masked shoppers recognize when I am smiling at them—can they see me smiling with my eyes? I hope they can. It’s bad enough out there without the world seeming unfriendly. Glad to hear your mask collection is healthy, Margaret.
Beautiful and creative subject! Love your beginning simile and “a quilt for a smile ending!”
Masks need to be celebrated like this. I like “like hats on a hatrack” and a “quilt for a smile.”
I, too, am in love with “quilt for a smile.” My collection is still quite small, but slowly growing (I think I’ve got three to choose from.” I’ve seen some folks wearing masks that put a smile on my face (behind my own mask), but I’ve also see a few that are a bit much. Thanks for this poem!
Coming from a family of quilters, I also love your last line. It’s so wonderful and puts a smile on my face. My own collection of masks is small, but growing. I’m glad, in a way, that we as a society started this situation with a lack of disposable masks. Hopefully what we are using will prove adequate and we won’t just be generating garbage in the upcoming months. Thanks for your poem!
That last line is clever! I just saw that they’re now making masks with sports team logos. I like your selection better!
Several people I know have either made masks or been given ones that make personal connections. I wrote about the masks during April, worrying that people won’t see me smiling, just as you expressed, Margaret. Having a sunflower, a “quilt for a smile” is a poignant line full of care for others. I love the poem though it makes me sad, too.
Margaret, lovely poem about this time in our history. You and me, both wearing masks to show our love and support. Your last line is an instant classic. The pretty and telling cotton prints can show our personality and good wishes for the world. I like the term “smize,” too, which is what we have to do these days, smile with our eyes. Bless you!
Aren’t we lucky to be able to contain our droplets in style? I appreciate the reminder to “express my love to you and you” by tolerating my fogged-up glasses…great poem.
I need to build up a collection/wardrobe of masks. Time to get out the sewing machine and get busy!
Aw, that is so lovely, Margaret! Our masks are all grey/white pattern/plaid. I love your sunflower mask as an expression of love. Sigh…
Masks are so important here on Long Island but many people still do not wear them. I only have two but having different to match outfits would be fun. Thanks for sharing your collection via poetry.
I like your ending line too, as Tabatha did. I mentioned to my daughter making a mask with a smile on it, but she thought that might be strange. It is hard not to be able to share a smile. Thanks for your quilt-like poem Margaret, full of love.
My rural isolation is such a blessing at a time like this. We don’t have any masks because it’s just us! But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating your poem. It needs to make its way into a history collection of these times.
If I need a mask, I will for sure be making a joy mask, so brighten a day! I’ve seen pics of people with big smiley masks. And nurses wearing their smiling faces pinned to the uniform – so that patients can still see smiles behind masks. Beautiful!
Yes, the masks have become a rich topic, haven’t they? I have 3 now, and I’ve made a number for relatives. One day when I went to the store with my flowered mask on, a lady with a similar one looked at me and we both broke into giggles. We almost matched! Best to you…