One of the sacrifices many have made during the pandemic is giving up in-person visits to relatives. Now, as vaccine distribution broadens and testing is readily available, some are breaking the long drought. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Pandemic Road Trip
It’s been over a year
Since last Christmas, really
Yes I’ve talked to them
Yes I’ve “seen” them
On glitchy flat screens
And I know
Lots of folks think flying
Is safer now
(“More so than the post office!” says a friend)
But still
When your parents are older
And in another state
Is it worth
Even a “safer” risk?
And so
When it had finally been
Too long
I got tested
Got the results
And got in the car
Just me
(There’s a risk I can control)
And just drove
And the miles swept by…
The distance narrowed…
Until it was just a block
Then a corner
Then a driveway
Then an open door
And then
And then…
Well
A hug
Has never felt
So good.
