BREATHE: My COVID Observation

by Lyn Artope

Primary colors of the earth;
blue, green, yellow, brown
The beauty is undeniable
as it breathes and loves

But like a teenager on a
chocolate binge her acne
is showing
The result of a poor diet

The inhabitants abusing the
beautiful body
we all need for survival -
binging over-indulgent
parasites destroying the harmony

I’ve always been a fan of Facebook
philosophy. I read a meme one time
that said…there are two types of tired,
one requiring rest the other requiring peace

Like a tired mother, home after a double
shift with children running around the
house screaming and making a mess…
the Earth screamed “Sit your ass down!!!”

then she collapsed in her comfortable
chair in quiet to breathe
As I sit at her feet quietly afraid to
even whisper I watch in awe because
I almost forgot how beautiful she was

In the crevices of her eyes and
the creases of her skin, I watch dolphins
return to their old stomping grounds – l
ong abandoned because the polluted
waters no longer allowed them to breathe

My red bird visits the back door and
knocks to say hello – how many times
has he visited and I failed to reply
The Himalayas are in view to remind
me of the true meaning of majesty

I watch. 

She rests and her beauty is restored
As she inhales and exhales I laugh
to myself at the crazy realizations
Who knew billionaires live paycheck to paycheck

That the least appreciated are the most essential
How quickly we relinquish freedom for
the perception of safety…
Maslow would be so proud

Trump’s an idiot and people are
racist pieces of shit…but that I already knew
The beauty and anguish named
Corona causes reflection and I pray eventual action
But for now I sit beside mother earth close my eyes and breathe
 

Lyn Artope is a performance poet, writer and actor from Brooklyn, NY, based in Maryland