COVID-19 Walk – Poetry by Barry Vitcov

Like classical and jazz music
We walk with different rhythms and intentions
My poodle and I
She doesn’t know social distance
Never has
Sees no use for it
I ease six feet
From others also edging
Nodding, smiling with artful politeness
We walk with Miles in the background

Returning home
Listening to Gould play Bach
Reminders of human dignity
The poodle connects
To a carefree world of whimsical fancy
And improvisation
While elegant music
Graces our lives with structure,
Beauty and reflection.

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Barry began writing poems and short fiction while in his early teens. He didn’t write poetry or fiction during his 40-year career in education. Since his retirement, he has been trying to recapture his ‘fictional’ voice writing haiku, longer poems, and short fiction. He has had a couple of poems published in EAP: The Magazine.

For the first time in nearly five years, Vita Brevis is closed for submission. Read the full story here.