The Living Church website shares three poems from Marly Youmans written in the midst of life in pandemic. Read the first here, and follow the link to read more.
Plague-spell
The village streets abandoned, save for deer
That, brazen, dare to nibble at our trees…
At sunset’s hour, a mild, uncanny light
Beckons us to west windows, curious.
Rain pelts the house, as sudden as a strike,
And just as swiftly drains and dies away.
Will we dismiss the strangeness of this year,
When breath or brush of hand might yield disease?
When customary pleasures took their flight,
And modern ways looked thin or spurious?
Calling, a sidewalk child straddles his bike:
Lazarus, Lazarus, come out to play!
Like seeds tucked into earth, we dream rebirth
Beyond all mortal dread of death and dearth.