The Time Before

I find myself lost in thoughts of the time before--

A warm press of soft palms with someone new,

Long hugs, hearts pressed together, with a soul sister,

My granddaughter’s velvety skin nestled against mine,

running my fingers through her curls

The unexpected sound of my son’s car in the drive,

his luminous gray eyes looking down at me,

Have you guys eaten yet? Nope, you’re just in time.

Shoulder to shoulder at the marina every Sunday with my best friend,

walking, laughing, side by side, into--pretty much everything 

It was the time before

All the computer screens in the world

can’t give or receive one hug,

convey one unscripted sigh,

one perfectly timed squeeze of a hand,

reach up, and wipe one tear away from one beloved eye

So many screens

So many masks

Too many gloves

So much fear

Too many feet between you and me

Lonely has a new meaning now

First published in The San Francisco Chronicle, 2019