When all this is over
When all this is over,
Maybe we’ll think of how beautifully the first returning birds sang,
and how bright the pink moon shone.
Perhaps we’ll remember the first warm breeze that nudged the mulch
from the way of early daffodils,
the squirrels who entertained us,
or the elder who teared when a stranger brought bread.
Maybe we’ll remember the passing nods of greeting,
or the middle-aged couple dancing in the empty street,
the letter written in beautiful cursive, or the smell of first-cut grass.
When all this is over,
perhaps we’ll think about the angels who sewed masks for strangers,
and sang to each other from a distance,
those who carried food to our cars,
heroes in hospitals who focused on hope,
Parents who kept their children safe and smiling.
Our hearts may recall the return of the dolphins to Venice,
and mountains fresh and visible for lack of haze,
the planet singing “See how easy this could be? See?”
Perhaps we will rethink the word “essential,”
and remember how we made soup, made bread, and made do.
And when this is all over,
maybe we’ll recognize
we’ve always been connected,
listen a little deeper, notice a little more,
waste a little less, and live a little better.
~ Dorothy Grover-Read
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Member of Slow Food
Lovely poem. Like you, I do hope positive lessons and changes are remembered when this is over – and certainly that we’re kinder to the Earth.
That is my deepest hope! Stay safe!
Very nice! Yesterday I saw a video of an octopus in venice. The water was so clear and light. Exciting.
I saw that same clip Mimi! And one of some jellyfish in the canals as well.
So nice for this special day when we have temps in the mid 30’s with ‘real feel’ in the 20’s. Darn it’s cold this Earth Day. 🙂
Yes, it is really cold here, we had a dusting of snow last night! But at least it is sunny!
This is a lovely poem, Dorothy.
Thank you Robbie!
Parents who kept their children safe and smiling.
The New Vintage Kitchen
Yes, they are heroes too!
I’m glad to see your daffodils are still blooming. Mine, too. 🌼🌿
Beautiful Dorothy!
Beautiful poem! I hope we will be better and more considerate after all this! 🌱
I truly hoping that this might spark that paradigm shift we so desperately need for our planet and ourselves. Stay safe and well!
How very beautifully written. 😘
Thank you so very much Karen! It is from the heart.
Lovely! And hopeful — when this is all over is definitely a kind of promise!
I’m trying to be hopeful, and I do feel that this whole things has indeed changed a lot of people and forced some thinking about behaviors we hardly knew were there.