March Madness games never saw a jump ball
World Championship dancers never got to dance at all
Provincial contests and trips cancelled
Along with every prom and grad
Countless heartbreaks and setbacks
And many reasons to be sad
No wedding bliss and no comfort at the grave
As we all isolate with hope for each life we can save
The unknown is frightening
And when the enemy is hidden
We question every cough
And pray for those who are bedridden
We learned to flex our job and also flex our mind
We looked for silver linings in whatever we might find
The government offered support
As workplaces closed down
While empty streets and squares
Echoed in every single town
We saw extraordinary heroes
In hospitals and grocery stores
We understood the word essential
And will know it evermore
The uncertainty is scary,
The breaking news unending
So let’s try to be mindful of the message that we’re sending
We can’t control what others think, what others do or say
We can’t control the things that will go wrong throughout our day
But we can control our actions, what we say and what we do
We can be helpful and be grateful,
And share heart-warming tales too
We don’t know when the story’s ending
Or what our new normal will be
But we can smile in any moment
And know perspective is the key
Stay connected while apart,
Offer to help if you are able
Reach out to those who struggle,
Give thanks for loved ones at your table
Nothing is ever certain
And we’ll have moments of sorrow
But one thing we can be sure of
Is that the sun will rise tomorrow.
Written by Siobhan Kelleher Kukolic
April 10, 2020