Sailed off in a wooden shoe
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew.
My oldest son loved that book. I read it to him every night. until he had it memorized at the age of 1. As his little mouth tried to form the words, he made his own attempt to recite it. He loved knowing how the story ended, the repetition, and the way the words dance.
I find that repetition and familiarity comfort me too. The rhythm of the words calm me. Reciting it brings back memories of happy times of my youth and the dearness of my sweet little boy. Nostalgia and memory are tools in my pocket for managing uncertainty and aloneness in this time of sheltering.
We are each forming new memories to look back on fondly right now. Which poems will we recite 10 years from now to remind us of how it was during the exceptional time of the Covid-19 pandemic? The time when the world changed?
Maybe you could write one today? Feel free to share it in the comments.