today I passed you
on the sidewalk
awkwardly
you looked at me
alarmed and fearful
I
immediately understood
your
true
feelings
deeply troubled and confused
we both
spoke with our eyes
desperately
trying to navigate
the raging sea
of face masks
all
s o c i a l l y ↔ d i s t a n c e d
self-censored
locked down
emotionally quarantined
deafening the silent chorus
of collective paranoia
imbued with a newfound sense
of self-serving designer moralism
does anyone
know that
I secretly longed to cradle your cheeks
and kiss you tenderly?
please forgive me
I am weak and sadly human
not now
but maybe someday
we shall meet, once again
whole and alone
naked of fear
in a sacred, holy place
where
there is
no
darkness