How do I feel, you ask me?

How do I feel?

My world’s become surreal.

I’m adrift, worried, confused, alone.

Oh, there’s plenty of conversation, plenty of laughter

back and forth, to and fro across my phone.

And seemingly never-ending texts dance upon the screens of all my devices.

But Lord… I want a hug.

Soon I’ll learn to Zoom, maybe even Skype.

I know facial expressions will be stilted, images ghostly.

Transmission will falter, sound will stutter.

Still, it’s better than not seeing dear faces at all. Right?

Lord… I want a hug.

My husband, under Hospice care, quarantined in a nursing home…

Will I ever see him again, hold his hand?

Does he miss me? Can he understand?

Parkinson’s and dementia have already been robbing us.

COVID 19

has sounded the death knell.

LORD… I NEED A HUG.