Heather Dearmon is a poet and photographer. Her work has been published in many publications, most recently in Fall Lines, 2019. Her chapbook water unto light was published by Finishing Line Press 2014. She lives in Columbia, SC with her husband, a musician and son, an artist.

Housebound 

Now that people are sick

it would be a good time to

take up a hobby you’ve always 

been interested in: cooking or 

baking, cross-stitch or knitting 

(we try but we cannot)

Now that people lack ventilators

you should revisit the talents

you have neglected:

drawing, writing, making music,

taking colorful photographs of birds

in your backyard

(we try but we cannot)

Now that people’s lungs 

are filling with fluids

you should listen to the music 

you loved from your youth, sing 

out loudly if you’re not ashamed 

(we try but we cannot)

Now that bodies are in meat trucks 

because the morgue is overwhelmed 

you should hit the treadmill, try out yoga, 

drink powdered protein shakes that make

you lean and trim

(we try but we cannot)

Now that you or a loved one 

has fallen sick, unable to breathe, 

and lack a ventilator

you should pray for angels to stand

at the bedside, ask them to perform

their holy works

(we fragile humans simply cannot)