after Mary Oliver
(even after Mary Oliver)
and her wild geese
calling to me, harsh and exciting,
while I am mired below
in despair,
the world and its brokenness
never ending,
the things that can repair me
so many now out of reach
and meanwhile
my kids are learning
how to skip count
how to swim the butterfly
how to check in
with their bodies
when they feel frustrated
meanwhile
we somehow eat lunch
(how? I don't make it?)
we eat dinner at the same
tiny table where we've
spent the day all day
on screens and videos
meanwhile
the kittens become cats
rest their chins on my knee
rub their heads on my
outstretched hand
to claim me
even from my despair
poem (c) 2020 D. Ohlandt
please only reprint in entirety and with credit given