Stay

05.04.20

Wake eat breathe

wait watch sleep away the worry

connect without meeting

missing while seeing your face

on a screen the size of my hand

close the door Da

wash the food before

touching the hands

that are cracking like they did

when you painted school railings in the rain

keep safe stay in

keep going stay sane

relax, read, do the things

you’ve been meaning to do

shed the weight

you’ve been meaning to lose

but not the plot

keep that!

Plant potatoes, dance with the telly

drink the wine you were keeping for ‘good’

loosen the clothes

tighten the purse

yoga, piano, cooking

and nothing worse than a whiner

so smile and post that online too.

How about not knowing

what to do for a while

figure it out before

it all goes back to a before

we couldn’t keep up with

and keep the good bits

the laughing at ourselves

time with the kids and dog

and neighbours leaving stuff on the step

the bloody good excuse

for not paying the bills

no sweat about not getting dressed

hearing birds again

now the traffic has been turned down

singing songs like you did the first time

music to my ears

that I get from mam’s side

who I miss

while I wake, eat, breathe

wait, watch and sleep away the worry.

******

Read more Letters From Home in the new Hot Press 'Stay Safe' Emergency Issue – available to buy in shops and order online now.