Of all the thousands of people in this place
Younger and older going about their lives
So few are known to me to greet by name
Much less to say anything personal
Seeing a stranger I sometimes wonder
What it would be like to get to know them
Imagining about their life and what stories
They could tell me if we were friends
But I keep my distance especially now
As the pandemic intensifies our isolation
Having to withdraw into our separate lives
Susceptible to a sense of alienation
Some take risks being desperate to socialize
Needing to talk face to face over a meal
Wanting to be close enough to touch
To eat drink and be happy for tomorrow you die
But most take precautions being careful
Hoping to live to see another happier day
Knowing we are not alone in our challenges
Contending with similar difficulties
The disconnect of being together and apart
Impacts all of us but more if we are alone
In a kind of parallel collective experience
Each in our individual household silos
Warm and dry under comfy covers
On this cold and wet October night
We are happy to be next to each other
Lucky to be enjoying good health
