it doesn't feel like 2021 yet I'm hoping
it will by january 20 who knows what all
will happen even is happening in this
crazy lame duck "2020" period so this is still
an old year poem on our difficult year –
our isolation, lack of holidays, illness,
separation from those we love, deaths,
increasing fragility of our political
system, the list goes on and on how
can anyone write a cheery report for
2020? but I realize there have been
some pluses – unexpected phone calls
from friends long neglected, time to read
unlikely books, some visits at social distance,
long moments to think, ponder, an amtrak ride
to visit isolated kids – I am not among those who
have lost house, job, money, I am even in a
position to help a bit locally, politically,
and now we're on the brink of vaccines
we can hope to resume life at a new normal
perhaps this next year and I've had a surprising
benefit from this year: a renewed and deeper
acquaintance with the starry sky
2021 Jacqueline Jackson
