beads

these are the last days before work close in

these are the days before being confined again

what will you do?

—what did you do

as it all turned upside down

work evaporate and confinement inverts 

with ambulances sailing our vacant streets

birds singing them onwards, towards the water

the whale’s mouth waiting wide open at the 

harbor swallowing hundreds a day

her eye, a dark bead 

of glowing maternal recognition

as she bless their return

and grants them her quieting