A Pandemic Poem

I recently participated in a wonderful virtual writing retreat with my dear cousin entitled "Finding Purpose in the Pause." Our final exercise was to write our own poem following the format of a poet named James Wright. The basic instructions were: twelve lines, long title, strong words at the end of each line, bold last line. Here's my poem:

The Morning the River Otters Came to Play in My Backyard on Sanibel Island

by M.B. Jackson

There is a pandemic

but they didn’t know; they came to play

anyway on a Tuesday morning.

My smallest child & I lie in bed chattering

when my husband motions for us to Come!

My feet, not yet ready for the day, scream

Snap! Crackle! Pop!

as I step toward the window. Otters! Otters??

Two balls of fur rolling and tumbling for a few short minutes.

We gasp in wonder.

Then they are gone.

My faith is renewed.