• Home
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Links
  • MER Journal
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Subscribe to MER!
  • MER Online
    • MER Quarterly
    • MER Literary Folios
    • Poetry
    • Fiction
    • Creative Prose
    • Essay
    • Interviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Craft
      • Authors’ Notes
    • Art Gallery
      • Special – Hybrids
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
      • MER 18 Virtual Reading – Voices From HOME
    • Currents
      • Announcements
      • Highlights
  • Shop
    • All Issues
    • One Year Subscription
    • Two Year Subscription
  • Submit
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram
MER – Mom Egg Review
  • Home
    • About
    • Masthead
    • Links
  • MER Journal
    • Latest Issue
    • Back Issues
    • Subscribe to MER!
  • MER Online
    • MER Quarterly
    • MER Literary Folios
    • Poetry
    • Fiction
    • Creative Prose
    • Essay
    • Interviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Craft
      • Authors’ Notes
    • Art Gallery
      • Special – Hybrids
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
      • MER 18 Virtual Reading – Voices From HOME
    • Currents
      • Announcements
      • Highlights
  • Shop
    • All Issues
    • One Year Subscription
    • Two Year Subscription
  • Submit
MER – Mom Egg Review
You are at:Home»Curated»Nurturing Through a Pandemic»Patricia Starek – Simple Request

Patricia Starek – Simple Request

0
By Mom Egg Review on June 13, 2020 Nurturing Through a Pandemic, Poetry

Patricia Starek

 

Simple Request

 

The request was simple
Can my child come say hello to your child?
With appropriate social distance of course

It has been 8 weeks since this 7-year-old has seen a friend in the flesh

Yes, come by on your walk
He would love that

And he waited
With rapt breath
Stood on the couch staring down the road
Waiting for his friend to arrive

Within minutes
There were requests for scooters
Running around the block
Sleeves were torn
Masks were off
Bubbles in the air
Nerf guns
Soccer balls
Laughter

Sweet laughter

His mom, masked
Looked at me
She and I
Still 12 to 20 feet away
Is this ok?
Should we be doing this

Joy feels scary
Play
The work of childhood
Denied

After 15 or so jubilant minutes
We cut it off
I’m sorry, she said
You’re gonna have to disinfect it all

My child, the happiest he’s been in days
Rushed into house to wash his hands

 


Patricia Starek, marries two passions: teaching and writing. She has always been a word lover. She has performed across the United States and internationally. She has taught both students and teachers for over 20 years. Patricia is obsessed with vocabulary. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleEileen Cleary – Poetry
Next Article Nicole Callihan – Poetry

Comments are closed.

June 7, 2023

Reaching the Shore of the Sea of Tranquility, by Anna Laura Reeve

June 7, 2023

Raven King – Poems by Fox Henry Frazer

June 7, 2023

Wind & Children by Linda Scheller

June 7, 2023

Mother Country by Jacinda Townsend

May 31, 2023

MER 21 Online Launch Reading

May 31, 2023

Poem of the Month – June

May 19, 2023

MER 21 Launch Reading – Sunday May 21 in NYC

May 10, 2023

Poem of the Month – May 2023 (2)

May 10, 2023

Poem of the Month – May 2023 (1)

May 10, 2023

Jennifer Georgescu – Art

Copyright © 2022 MER and Mom Egg Review
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.