poem: muddled

deep introspection escapes me
these days as my attention strays
hither and yon

a red dawn morning heralding
the destruction of hurricanes
as high winds and heavy rains approach

headlines of violence and death
abroad as families and children
scramble for safety amid darkness

news of dear vaccinated friends
fighting Covid infections
in this morphing pandemic

and our beloveds’ challenges
of suffering and healing
in these epochal times

the thread whipping about
I am adrift, now grabbing,
now hanging on for dear life

Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
September 1, 2021

photos by Herb Stone
‘Red Dawn’
‘Tropical Depression Ida Blows Through’