It was to be a celebratory long weekend in Washington DC. We would all gather in a large rental house to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary. Our children. Their children. The Circle of Love as we call ourselves. Dinner reservations made. Photographer arranged. So long in the planning. Fifty years in the making.
And then the unthinkable took hold across the globe. It became clear we would not be “eleven total in raucus revelry.” Instead we are sheltering in place in our individual homes. Venturing out for groceries. Taking our own walks on separate unbeaten paths in three different cities, in two different states. We do connect with phone calls and Facetime to insure all are well. We share tales of in-house projects, board games, and home schooling. Love is always heard in our eleven voices – no matter the distance. And for this we are grateful.
spring time daffodils
untouched by Covid-19
dance closely in sun
Written for Haibun Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets where today Kim asks us to use a previous poem we’ve written about ourselves, and from its core, create a haibun: 2 paragraphs of tight prose followed by a haiku with a seasonal mention.
My haibun today is based on my previous poem Solitude and quotes one line from it.
Photo taken on our walk yesterday — keeping “social distance” from others but enjoying the hope spring brings. So many daffodils planted along the banks of the river Charles…so close together. Would that we can all soon embrace our loved ones and walk arm-in-arm again.
To all my readers: stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive.
lillian the home poet 
I like the magnanimous atmosphere of your poem, Lillian. “daffodils planted along the banks of the river Charles…so close together. Would that we can all soon embrace our loved ones and walk arm-in-arm again.” is a perception that really hits home
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I’m so glad you liked the post. It surely is a trying time. While we missed our gathering, it is not at all a hardship in comparison to the brave healthcare workers, delivery people, grocery store workers….or those who have lost their source of income.
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You capture both the times and your personal investment in them quite well in this, Lillian.
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the post!
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You had me at /Love is always heard in our eleven voices/. My wife’s 15th annual birthday bash at the ocean with family and friends was likewise canceled.
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Ah yes…..we were sad indeed to miss this celebratory gathering. But I am so thankful we are all healthy. I can not imagine the stress of healthcare workers right now…or those who have lost their source of income. It is a surreal time.
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How sad your 50th anniversary celebration became a party of two. I guess that is exactly the way it started… a party of two beginning life together in love! Nothing can steal the memories!!
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Ah yes…..a party of two in the beginning and still today. It truly helps when you marry your best friend! We stay in touch with our family via facetime and phone calls. I’ve taken up painting again 🙂 We are so thankful for health care workers, grocery folks, etc. Our trials and tribulations are nothing compare to those who have lost their source on income or have friends or loved ones infected with this insidious virus. I pray for the day we have a vaccine for this and no one has to go through this again.
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Yes, we are truly blessed! Maybe it takes something like this to remind us just how much!
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The daffodils are lovely. Yes, we’re in a different world. I’m still waiting to celebrate my birthday dinner, lol, not that it matters because I’m not a kid anymore. But, it’s a weird, and then frightening world now. Hope you all stay safe.
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We are, and our family is, safe and healthy. My heart goes out to health care workers, those who have lost their source of income, those who are working in grocery stores and delivery people. It is indeed a stressful time and so very important to stay positive. Spring is about to pop and those bright colors bring a bit of happiness to us all.
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So many plans upended! Best to enjoy the daffodils while we can. (K)
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Exactly. Count our blessings….and revel in the bright sunshiney daffodils and forsythia.
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AW sorry to hear of your postponement. Be like thos daffodils meanwhile. Stay safe and healthy
much love…
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Yes indeed. My husband and I are hunkered down….and so grateful we married our best friends 🙂
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I would have been away on my winter vacation right now… all canceled and gone. All grey and safe at home
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Stay safe. Wash your hands. Stay calm and carry on. We are so glad we married our best friends! 🙂
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So many planned activities postponed and/or suspended. It’s as if time stood still … until you consider the dreadful battle that’s being waged in our hospitals. We are fortunate we have technology and we can at least be together in cyberland.
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You are so right, Beverly. Our postponed gathering is a very small trial in comparison to what others are facing. Counting our blessings….and so glad I married my best friend! Stay safe!
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Really nice poem. Very economical; in enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing! x
http://www.homeschoolguru.org
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Me and my family should have a mega gathering this year to celentste 1 50th birthday, 3 21st birthdays, 3 16th birthdays and mum and dads 40th wedding annervesry. So this does hit home thank you
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