HIDING

I woke up
Today would be different.

I tuned into the news.
It was the same, only exponentially worse.

It’s a pandemic, but birds are singing
The whales swim north to their winter hunting grounds.

I have been hiding.
Yelling at the lies, crying at the truth.

I’m all stocked up on bad news.
My pantry is awash in panic and canned spam.

I’ve been hiding from hiding.
It’s past time to give up, I already know too much.

I think today is different after all, 
I embrace the liberty of confinement.

Quarantine is an ‘artist’s residency’ 
in a lovely cottage by the sea.

I have been hiding from freedom.


Jonathan Pazer
Mendocino, CA
Mar. 21, 2020

[In the midst of the Corona Virus Pandemic. After  everyone's retirement account lost 30% of it’s value, and we are all under a “Shelter in Place Order”. For good measure, the prognosis is that this could go on for months.]