Covid Epistolary

for John

words scant

as groceries

& turn to buy

tea

in merciful order

i always craved

this silence

where starlings fade

into the lead

they sing in Italy

but flashmob in Philly

ah, what we do

to find order

like the neighbor's

patrol daily

second floor halls

and firemen listen

to bagpipes

their drone

ghost-songs for camaraderie

every anniversary

a repatriation of the dead

together we learn

and become conversant

in distance