Social Distancing and Space: A Poem

                                                  Social Distancing and Space

                                   Staying apart and space between others

                                           has always been a part of our culture.

                                   Black and white cultures never mixed;

                                         slave and servant served their “masters”.

                                   Indians who lived here first

                                     became “second class” natives.

                                   Jewish and Catholic faiths once again

                                          were marginalized.

                                   Last names were identifiers of background;

                                         solidarity, national pride were lost.

                                   Music and poetry have space

                                        in sound and notes.

                                   The ear acts as silencer, pause.

                                    Eyes open and close to noise

                                        sight becomes an enabler of self.

                                    One’s relationship to another

                                       opens or closes with arms and feet.

                                  Now Covid 19 adds to separation;

                                        vaccinated against unvaccinated;

                                        masked versus unmasked.

                                     Are we followers not participants

                                         with Christ our Savior?

                                      Chewing and swallowing the host

                                          unites ourselves to all He is.

                                      His Passion Death and Resurrection

                                           becomes our hope too for eternal life.

                                       Our day to remember and celebrate

                                            Christ’s solidarity with us

                                             Is Sunday, Corpus Christi.

                                                        ALLELUIA!