Love in quarantine by Melinda Cochrane

a daughter stands in front
of her parents below a balcony 
smiling at them, 
making jokes to see  
the happiness in whatever may come,

​mothers, sitting wondering 
if her children are being safe
with gloves and loving them wearing
masks before remembering a time of washing a face,

a son calls, why didn't you answer,
you made me worry, where did you go?
telling them to sit still and become a dancer
in their living rooms for a little lung flow,

men arrive at the windows 
of women they love, holding 
bags of food while in their soul grows
a quiet unheard moment of longing,

amateur musicians perform,
singing over cities savaged by COVID-19,
loving people who cry in the storm, 
songs reminding them a night did 
pass in the shining warm,

​and as we pass on from one day 
to another, we gently are reminded 
that love in quarantine will stay
to hold us as we are united 
in a hope for God's mercy to take this away.
By Melinda Cochrane

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