These are strange times. As I type this blog post, I am sitting in my living room, listening to NPR and reading my school email. I have not been to school in almost three weeks (I think?) and I don’t know when I’ll return.
Just now, BBC World News via NPR, declared that “America must brace for 100,000 or more people to die” as a result of Corona Virus.
It is also April 1st and spring is on its way. My lilac bush is leafing out more every day. My daffodils are nodding their bright yellow heads and my tulips are beginning to bud.
It is also the start of National Poetry Month and I am still writing, quite a bit so far, in this strange, uncertain time. I know I am going to write for National Poetry Month, but I’m not going to put any parameters on myself, rather I may work through a prompt if it moves me or I may just free write. I’ve been keeping a diary of sorts since I learned I would be home for the rest of term. I know there is definitely material there to mine for poems.
But I also want to reach out because it is easy to feel lonely and isolated when you can’t leave your house.
So for National Poetry Month 2020, I’m going to make a short video of myself reading one of my poems for each day during the month of April. If I’m being honest, I’m doing this as much for me as anyone else. I have no expectations regarding this little project at all. It gives me something to do, something to look forward to and something to share and that’s really all I’m looking for.
I’ll be posting them here each day and then sharing the to Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. I’m not operating on a schedule of any kind, but I hope to get one up a day starting today.
Love to all of you wherever you are. Be well.
Brianna Pike 