found poem: beyond social distance

found poem © j.i. kleinberg

found poem: The task

found poem © j.i. kleinberg
published in Pendemic

a poem, for a change

On the trail

How courteous we were
yesterday as we stepped

off the trail to allow others
plenty of room to pass

untouched, no brushing
of shoulders, not close enough

to notice that in our isolation
we hadn’t bathed, that we’d barely

climbed out of our pajamas,
run the toothbrush round

our mouths before yielding
ourselves to this extravagance

of spring, the river an icy celadon
in a stripe of afternoon sun,

moss-painted boulders big as cars,
fallen trees tossed in a snarl,

the ups and downs of the path
playing with the song

of the river, louder, softer,
as we step aside, wait, smile

at the dogs rushing to greet us,
to reassure us, it’s okay, you smell good.
 
 
© J.I. Kleinberg