Came a Sickness
The people were used to dying
one at a time
Then came a sickness
upon the land,
came a sickness
to every nation
Came a sickness that killed
the already ill,
killed those who had not known
sickness, killed the generous
who cared for the dying,
killed those who took great care,
killed the careless,
killed those who embraced
worship, killed
those who touched
no God.
The people were used to grieving
by gathering
gathering the goodness each person
brought to the world
Left bereft
we masked ourselves
So many at once,
gone
gone without touching
without goodbye
without rites
perfected
over centuries
Came more sickness
of mind—
scams, lies,
the constant deliberate
epidemic of lies
Came fine minds
crafting vaccines,
came for the lucky
recovery
Came brown blue hazel green
eyes above cloth
seeking other eyes
Came deep grief
opening rituals
we’d never touched
Breathe out, breathe in
this air we share
Each breath
a blessing
each breath
a prayer
-First published in the Alaska Quarterly Review
Do Not Rescusitate
You weren’t afraid, you say,
when you put pen to paper
to instruct those who might
restart your stopped heart
not to,
no,
not afraid.
More calm,
this danger-orange form
making clear
to ones who
know nothing
of you, clear too
to those who
love you well
that you’re mindful
that your time
breathing easy
on this earth
is short, your plenty
mostly spent—
six children, ten grandchildren,
great love, piloting
your amphibious
Widgeon, landing
on water, wild and remote, or
off a tiny island
in Fiji,
night diving
to watch soft corals
open their polyps, millions
of mouths
filled with want,
blue ribbon eels coughing,
that considerable current
pulling us
and you
dream flying
letting it take you.
-Firsrt published in the Alaska Quarterly Review
Peggy Shumaker’s upcoming book is called still water carving light (Red Hen Press). Her lyrical memoir Just Breathe Normally chronicles her recovery after a life-changing wreck. She is deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses, techs, and staff whose care allowed her to heal and thrive.