Put on Hold

 And so, it has been 

one year since the fateful 

announcement that our schools were 

closing down and our lives

put on hold. 

A few weeks, 

we thought; an extended spring break, 

we thought; could it be a lark, 

we thought?  

It wasn't.  

It was 52 weeks, 

without hugs, 

without family gatherings, 

without in-person connections. 

Weeks of fear, 

loss, 

and social isolation. 

Weeks of masks, 

stoicism, 

and video connections.

We move forward with hope,

and yet, reflect on what we've lost.