The trouble with staying indoors all the time
although not much different than I normally do
is trying to stay busy and occupy the mind
something different than the normal kind
of things that I do nearly every day
like reading the mail and then have my say
when in return I write a response
not always agreeing what others may write
but freedom of speech is one of the joys
that still remains a useful ploy
after exhausting the need to respond
I search about for things to do
reading up on the latest news
and of other people’s point of view
tending the ponds takes a lot of my time
cleaning filters and other such tasks
accompanied by my two little dogs
who are really not much good at the work
preferring instead to run and play
but helping in their own little way
I love their company and they enjoy mine
and between us we have a fine old time
sometimes I need to go to the store
to replenish the food we ate last week
I leave them at home and lock the door
and they are sad to see me leave
but happy when I arrive home
as we usually go for a walk down the street
passing neighbors walking on the other side
in a group but six feet apart
keeping their distance as the orders provide
we wave and greet each other at will
although they are strangers at this moment in time
and the need to be social is strong indeed
but because of the lockdown we keep our space
as members of the human race
families do not have to answer this call
they live together after all
and hope that immune from the virus will be
together as a family
I have a large yard that takes some of my time
mowing and weeding and keeping it straight
and this year things are growing so fast
different than in years gone past
maybe the lack of vehicles on the road
improving the pollution in the air
is allowing Nature in her own way
to recover a little as if to say
“See just how much I can do
when given the chance I come shining through
and from this moment you should learn
and do the right thing in return
clean up the world and clean the skies
and if you need a reason why
look around to see what I have done
in a few short days you can see the sun
and the stars at night and the moon shining through
as the pollution abates what a wonderful view”
Alas we humans are a stupid race
and on this earth we have no place
we don’t know how to keep it clean
pollution free is not our scene
and it does not fit in with our style
we are not willing to go that extra mile
to clean up our planet now given the chance
as the lockdown is just a temporary thing
and as soon as we’re able we’ll be at it full swing
polluting the planet as though it’s our own
instead of remembering that it is on loan
and we are the tenants as a far greater force
controls all our destinies on a far different course.

Written 5/1/2020