The following poem was written by Palgrave’s Carol Good, author of Alive & 65
We used to answer the door with curiosity
not concern
We used to strike up conversations
while waiting in line
We used to not think twice as we left home
unmasked unasked about being vaxxed
And now we don’t
We used to embrace hellos and farewells
not only wave
We used over-pack our now dust-covered bags
for the next trip
We used to gather to watch, cheer, applaud
weep together
And now we hesitate
