I am taking a creative-inducing drug called A-Poem-a-Day. It’s good for me. But it doesn’t always make me happy. Poetry is a place where emotions become raw. This week I heard of another community member’s death from Covid. He was 75 and battled for months. His family was dedicated, by his side, and hopeful until they couldn’t be. I don’t know this kind of loss. I’m a lucky one, and sometimes that makes me feel guilty.
Laura Shovan does a poetry writing project every February. This year the theme is body. If you are interested in seeing the week’s prompts, go to her site here.
Heather Meloche posted the prompt “lungs” with a profound graffiti art piece “I can’t breathe”. Not only do I wish I could breathe for those who can’t, I also wish I could take away the pain of loss. This empathy came out in my poem.
Misty morning
fills my lungs
with living.
On this day
I pray
for air,a way to not care
people are drowning.They can’t breathe.
A machine breathes for them.I wish for a way
like roots of trees
breathe together underground,a way
to pass
hand to hand
lung to lungHealth
Margaret Simon, draft
Healing
Hearty
life.
Reflections on the Teche 
I do love how you wish for a way we could be like trees, breathing together and taking care of each other. All this loss piles up. I saw a friend on a chat last night who’s retiring. And, while I’m delighted for her, the loss I will feel next year will be tremendous. I’m weary of loss after loss of all kinds. Yes, I supposed my feelings are a bit raw as well.
We must post at the same time on twitter. I saw the tweet for this post just after I shared mine.
Powerful and sensitive poem Margaret, I enjoyed reading it on Laura’s site— especially your connection with tree roots, thanks.
Appreciations for sharing the neighbors’ sadness, your sadness, your creativity & the Ardif from Paris “I Can’t Breathe” artwork, which to me speaks potently not only to Covid-19 suffocations, but to Mr. Floyd & others in similar violent situations.
I love love love your opening line to describe creative Laura Shovan’s poem-a-day event. I attended a different one online from mid-Dec. to mid-January (MoSt Poetry Center) & managed one poem! One. You all ,creating so frequently with her, are flowing. xo Jan.
I must have missed this one in the group, Margaret, makes me sad that we can’t all help breathe for others. What a beautiful wish in your poem! Laura’s group’s sharing have been amazing, including yours!
It is a profound art piece, Margaret. Your sentiment: “Not only do I wish I could breathe for those who can’t, I also wish I could take away the pain of loss” strikes me as much as the poem it sparked. As someone who suffered terribly with asthma as a child, these lines hit home for me. I note the imagery of the trees breathing through their roots and that whispers “cypress” to me – I could only get enough breath to sleep by balling up on my knees. I am sorry for your neighbor’s suffering, and his family’s, and for the awfulness of a virus that attacks the lungs and steals the breath. You’re right – sometimes poetry is a place where emotions become raw, unhappy – yet there remains a crystal of healing, a capillary of hope, an interconnectedness of the experience of being alive. All are here in your lines.
This is such a heartfelt poem. I share that longing to be able to share in breathing for those who cannot.
Your first stanza is lovely. Misty morning/ fills my lungs/ with living. Breathing is something we all want to be effortless, and it can’t be ignored when it isn’t.
Oh, Margaret. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Your poem captures so much intense emotion–the opening lines pulled me in and I could so relate to your fervent wish that we could all unite to help each other. There are so many layers of meaning in this beautiful poem!
I love “fills my lungs with living.” Beautiful evocation of the mixed feelings this year. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Margaret, a profound, sensitive, and post and poem. I hear what you are saying and also feel empathy for many families. These words stand out for me, “Poetry is a place where emotions become raw.” because it is so true; It is healing and therapeutic, too. I also think by sharing poetry it is therapeutic for the author and the reader. Your compassion and skills would make you a great teacher of poetry to adults, also.
Amazing art and prompt. Your honesty and emotion have moved me and especially in these lines, “I wish for a way/like roots of trees/breathe together underground.” I love how you always find a way to bring nature into your poetry. Thank you for sharing.
We are really getting our efforts’ worth out of this February Project, aren’t we? I love this idea:
‘I wish for a way
like roots of trees
breathe together underground”
and actually this is how it works, we ARE all connected in one giant human organism WITH the earth…at least that’s how it seems to me.THAT is God.
Margaret, it has been a pleasure reading through your poems and others during the February Project. Your H words at the end are a vital prayer for the living and so prayer becomes an essential element in our quest for a healthy life. I think of all those who have significant issues due to the horrid COVID virus.