Smiles, oh where are you?

Miles and miles, I have walked.

Yet I don’t see you, 

I only see masks and tissues.

People dying,

Loved ones crying.

Gatherings turned into phone calls,

When was the last time they saw each other?

Family members no longer recall.

Where laughter once reigned, fear now remains.

Oh world, how sad are you?

Souls that swam in tranquility now suffer from anxiety,

Eyes that knew ease no longer know but exhaustion. 

Oh world, what have you come to?

What is this, a repulsion?

Closed doors, empty stores.

Human touch, can we be craving it more?

We all feel alone but then again, we hope:

For a better tomorrow, for the strength to cope.

Let’s go to the movies.

There’s a party tonight.

Last I heard, for all, it’s been a while,

Kids and adults alike all took for granted

What was once so easily provided.

To think of a time where all was within reach seems so far, 

It now seems we are left with only scars.

We never thought we’d have to part,

Could we just skip this part?

While none of this was what we had in mind,

Would you mind reflecting on what was also blessed upon mankind?

Patience, Gratitude, Faith: 

We were all lacking, 

But now, it’s not the case.

What started as a pandemic became a lesson:

To appreciate all and to listen

To the needs of our loved ones,

To the beckons of our hearts,

To the big questions. 

Weren’t we all terribly mistaken? 

Never once appreciating what we had, I’m confessing:

We weren’t worthy of all the blessings.

For few were the times we had stopped to think

About how lucky we really were:

To be able to go out with our friends and share a plate,

To be able to hug our loved ones no matter our state.

We may not be able to go back to what we once had, 

So let us now count our blessings.

Let us be grateful for good health, as it is never a guarantee.

Let us be grateful for the great outdoors where we feel free.

Let us be grateful for time with our loved ones, as we can never know when they might have to leave.

Let us be grateful:

For only then, shall we find peace.

Here’s to life’s greatest blessings:

May we never take for granted.

May we never lose perspective.