NaPoWriMo 2020: Postcards from the Pandemic - 2. Week One

Postcard #3 April 1, 2020

Another restless night.

Sweat-soaked

Not-quite-nightmares

Woke at 1:30 am, Wow! I slept for several hours!

Squinted and re-read the clock.

10:30 pm.

And again at

12:00 am

2:15 am

3:30 am

4:45 am

And finally

6:30 am.

Back to sleep until 8:00.

An unheard of luxury.

Better not get used to it.

Sleep, but not rest.

As my body tells me.

Headache

Stomach ache

Racing heart.

Deep breaths help for a second or two.

Postcard #4 April 2, 2020

I had routine bloodwork drawn this morning.

I probably should have cancelled the appointment, but

The key word here is routine.

I scheduled it a month ago.

During a very different time.

I want to know if my fasting blood sugar has dropped.

Or if the stress has affected me deeper than I realize.

And keep as much normalcy as possible in an abnormal world.

Postcard #5 April 3, 2020

Postcard from the Front

Battle fatigue keeps running through my mind.

I’m tired of fighting fear

Anxiety

Isolation

Administration

Radio silence.

I want to go grocery shopping for the socialization.

I don’t actually need any food.

I want direction and order to my day.

I want clear expectations of what to do and

How to fight.

But I also want to take a nap until this is over.

Postcard #6 April 4, 2020

Furloughed

Was a word I did not expect to hear.

My supervisor informed me yesterday, voice trembling.

It took me a while to process what she was saying.

I cried for a job I hate.

It’s an interesting paradox, because as much as I dislike

Administration’s lack of leadership, empathy, and communication,

I love my individuals and community with co-workers.

Be careful what you wish for, I suppose.

And be thankful for what you have,

Because even essential workers may be deemed non-essential.

Postcard #7 April 5, 2020

Weekends haven’t changed much

For an introvert like me.

Sleep in.

Make breakfast.

Play Candy Crush.

Go grocery shopping.

Cook and freeze lunches for the week.

That part has changed, since now I can make meals

Anytime.

I talked to a dear friend for almost an hour yesterday.

Temporary balm for my frazzled soul.

Postcard #8 April 6, 2020

Every morning since we got the order to stay home,

My phone has buzzed with a text message.

Good morning! It’s another day. Hang in there!

There are four of us in the group text.

Me, two co-workers, and my supervisor.

We call ourselves “The Bitter Bunch”,

A play on a more positive name from a news story

About co-workers who won the lottery.

Although we play every week,

We haven’t won.

This morning, my phone buzzed and I grinned,

Happy to still be included, despite the furlough.

I thought it strange the phone continued to vibrate,

Indicating a call vs a text.

It was spam.

I sighed and turned toward the wall,

And attempted to go back to sleep.

Postcard #9 April 7, 2020

I made brownies today.

Low carb, chocolatey goodness

With added cinnamon and chili powder to

Amp up the flavor.

It wasn’t part of my daily plan,

But sometimes it’s best to toss to-do lists aside,

And go with the flow,

Even if it leads nowhere,

And make a new plan.

Week One Bonus Poems:

Bonus Poem #1

I awoke to bright sunlight, the first in days.

Balm for an anxious soul.

My morning routine took a bit longer to start.

I didn’t see the point.

Until I opened the curtains to see my blooming forsythia

And green grass next to emerging daylilies.

I saw my first client today via telepractice.

And felt purpose again

Like less of an April’s fool.

Bonus Poem #2

At My Desk

My desk resides in the garage

Arranged like Tetris pieces

To allow space to park my car,

Keeping my Kia safe.

I was so proud twenty years ago when I saved up enough money

To buy a ‘fancy’ computer desk.

Now, it took up too much room.

And I never use it.

So off to the garage it went.

Now I sit on my comfy Laz-y-Boy

Surrounded by TV trays.

Two for work

Two for leisure

Not the most professional set up,

But it’s functional, and I have windows in this office

To let in rays of hope.

And a purring supervisor sleeping behind me.

Prompts used:

#1 -- Let’s begin with writing about what you have seen this April first. What does your world look like here at the bare beginnings of spring? Or you could tell an April Fool’s Day joke.

#2 - Entitle your poem “At My Desk” and talk about your writing space and what you ponder while waiting for words.