In the Time of Virus

Series of poems exchanged between poets via e-mail

#2

Imaginary Dolphins of Venice The wishful thinking of dolphins swimming in the canals of Venice lousy panacea, beautiful hallucination not to mention serendipitous swans, the color of no more war. Social distancing is six feet to a thousand miles depending on the color of your eyes. This light breeze- spiked chime sounds either resigned or aloof, I can’t tell which, and the thrashers emote as though nothing is as communicable as music. The space between myself and everyone else advances with age and I’m aging by the speed of sound. This morning there was chicken sausage sizzling and scrambled eggs, scents filled the kitchen. Empire is now sharing a cup of coffee with the rest of humanity. I don’t even know their names! Empire is her holding me like I was the last hermitage on earth. Our berserk dogs need their Sunday hike, bereft of parishioners and sometimes I don’t think the desert will summer us out of this any more than dolphins will carry our grey ashes out to sea. ###

- John Macker

In the Time of Virus

Series of poems exchanged between poets via e-mail

# 1

INCIDENT REPORT Covid is a vampire Created in Frankenstein’s Laboratory In Wuhan Covid is no bomb Ba bomb ba bomb Ba Boom Covid is a silent assassin Even god can’t see it I’m not good at chess But this is another end game Another another I don’t know what the bible says But I sure there’s a prophecy or two I want to wear a mask That makes me invulnerable A super hero with his super crew Covid is killing me but I love the changes I’m in the target zone I’m staying home Walking a lot Talking on the telephone Reading and writing poems In the age of the unbelievable In the age of the unspeakable There’s always a new effigy To evoke a spirit Chanting between the past and dreams A love for me A love for you A love supreme A love supreme A love supreme

- John Knoll

John Courtney