Before Now and After
Title
Before Now and After
Creator
Lisa M., of Portland, Maine
Date
April 13, 2020
2020-04-13
Subject
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-
Rights
By submitting content, the creator of this item has granted Portland Public Library permission to disseminate, preserve, and use that content in connection with its educational and research mission, including promotional purposes, in all media in perpetuity. The creator of this item retains ownership of and copyright in the material that has been shared in this particular project & collection.
Text
Before Now and After
Before, we were kind to each other.
Now, we worry about each other.
After, will we still care for each other?
Before, we nodded in passing.
Now, we wave and mumble behind masks.
After, will we guard against any contact?
Before, we held the door open for the person behind us.
Now, it's each person to their self.
After, will we be polite again?
Before, people kept a friendly distance.
Now, we are "social" distancing.
After, will we be on our own?
Before, smiles, tears, grins, nods.
Now, masks, raised brows, blinking eyes, nods.
After, a friendly wave, kindness, a warm gesture, smiling nods.
Before, we were kind to each other.
Now, we worry about each other.
After, will we still care for each other?
Before, we nodded in passing.
Now, we wave and mumble behind masks.
After, will we guard against any contact?
Before, we held the door open for the person behind us.
Now, it's each person to their self.
After, will we be polite again?
Before, people kept a friendly distance.
Now, we are "social" distancing.
After, will we be on our own?
Before, smiles, tears, grins, nods.
Now, masks, raised brows, blinking eyes, nods.
After, a friendly wave, kindness, a warm gesture, smiling nods.
Original Format
Poetry
Collection
Citation
Lisa M., of Portland, Maine, “Before Now and After,” Portland Contemporary Archives: Portland Public Library, accessed April 26, 2024, https://portlandlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/12.