Life in the time of CoVid-1 Day to Lockdown!
At 11:59 Thursday March 26 Lockdown Begins*
Pen poised: Was a time I posted musings on my blog Kelly’s Fishbowl regularly. But like many others who “blogged,” with so many other social media platforms taking attention—especially the more visually-focused—my “read this” missives were superfluous. So, instead I turned my focus to creating/exploring poetry and for the past 132 weeks have been posting, with Cindy Faughnan, poetry prompts called The 7-Minute Challenge.** (If you’re a subscriber, you’ve been receiving—and trying out the prompts yourself.) But that was Life before the time of CoVid-19.
With those of us considered “non-essential” now housebound, “sheltering and “social distancing,” and scratching around for things to do, I’m thinking time might be on my side. Especially as my wings, as of midnight, will be officially clipped. We are in South Africa, have been since March 3rd.
On the day we departed, March 1st, the first case of CoVid in New York was confirmed. The victim was a woman who had flown in from Iran, she was isolating at home with “no serious complications.” Govern Cuomo wasn’t worried, so why should we?
“There is no reason for undue anxiety—the general risk remains low in NY. We are diligently managing this situation &will provide info as it becomes available.”
Must confess having arrived in Capetown, South Africa feeling fortunate to be escaping the Corona “Hype.” Certainly we were concerned. We felt compassion and sadness for all those people in China, Italy, and the Northwestern U.S., but we were feeling mostly immune, removed. After all, we can count the “epidimics” we’ve avoided: Legionnaires in 76, SARS in ‘02, Swine Flu in ‘09, Avian Flu in Indonesia, Zika in Trinidad, even Relapsing Tick Fever in good ole Austin, Tx. Besides, as every one was repeating “The ‘common flu’ kills 250-500 thousand people world wide—every year!”
We’d come to South Africa for holiday, specifically to celebrate with friends and cycle the Cape Argus. A tad giddy upon landing in this then warm, sunny, Corona Virus free country, I was more worried about riding—and finishing The Argus than I was CoVid.
Cheesing at the Start
March 5th we took a long practice cycle in preparation for The Argus. My big complaint: a sore bum. March 5th, the first CoVid-19 case in South Africa was confirmed. The victim was a man who’d flown in from Italy. The man was in quarantine in far off Johannesburg (870 miles away.)
March 12, 16 Confirmed Cases of CoVid in South Africa.
March 15, Sunday, the first locally-transmitted case is reported.
March 15, NYC Schools, Restaurants, Bars closed; number of cases tops 700.
The day after Charles Birthday Bash (an evening of pure revelry), the South African President, Cyril Ramphosa, gave a speech declaring a national state of disaster. We gathered in at the TV to watch as he detailed the measures the government was taking to contain the virus. These included cancelling gathering of more than 100 people, including school, all sporting events & concerts, hand sanitization, social distancing and elbow bumps (with 2 demonstrations). The elbow bump was immediately dubbed “The Cyril.” Laughing we practiced it along with the Chinese hand-shake alternative: Foot Taps.
Later, while speaking with our family back in the US, who were housebound in self-isolation, with school’s already cancelled, we considered ourselves very lucky to be so far from danger. In fact, our kids jokingly suggested (or maybe not so jokingly) that we would be better off staying put. Especially as the number of CoVid-19 cases in New York mounted.
March 22, with 51 confirmed cases in South Africa; 33,334 cases* had been reported in the United States of COVID-19, with 415 deaths.
The South African Government took action. This evening President Ramphosa addressed the nation again. In an eloquent, clear and comprehensive speak, he announced the plan for a national 21-day lockdown. The plan included suspension of travel except to essentials: grocery, pharmacy, doctor, bank & public assistance offices, and no gathering except for funerals (limited to 50 attendees.) All non-essential establishments & places including parks, beaches, etc. Liquor sales were suspended, too (and anyone caught with liquor in their car would be arrested.) Domestic airports would be closed and domestic flights cancelled. All beginning at 11:59 pm on Thursday, March 26th. The country had 4 days to prepare for lockdown.
Following the animal trail to Rhinos
We congratulated the President on taking swift action (much swifter than the US had) and watched as Shona, Charles, their relatives, Port Alfred and the rest of the country stocked up on supplies. The big joke was “toilet paper.” All their Australian friends and family were complaining about the lack—paper printers were even printing blank newspapers to fill in as “loo paper.”
We Expats listened and watched with curiosity but not personal concern. We had been “quarantining” with the same group (pretty much) for weeks. And besides, we were scheduled to fly out in a matter of days: Curtis and I were set for Monday, Port Elizabeth to Capetown to London to JFK departure; Dave & Les were scheduled to leave from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg and then Sydney on Tuesday. We planned a few last things to do: river cruises, beach walks, fishing, card games, “what’s for dinner?”
March 23rd we were faced with a new reality:
“Breaking: Confirmed coronavirus cases surge to 402 in SA”
*I know, this post is long. Consider it more of a catch up. I plan to post daily through the lockdown, the rest will be shorter promise. (And yes, the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge will continue too.
**The 7-Minute Poetry Challenge officially began March 17, 2016. I can’t say my interest in adding poetry to my days began with Trump, but I do credit Trump for it becoming habit. Creating a poem-a-day began as a challenge between myself and fellow writer, VCFA classmate, Cindy Faughnan. When pledging to devote 7 minutes each day to creating a poem (7 being the magic number of minutes because 5 was too few and who had 10 minutes to spare?), we needed to set a penalty for failing. Then, in the heat of the 2016 Presidential Elections, we could not think of any penalty more horrific that for Donald Trump to win the election. Thus with the penalty for not writing and sending a poem by midnight was set: whoever missed must donate $50.00 to Trump’s campaign and announce it loudly and publicly on all social media platforms. 7-Minute Poetry Challenge set, we commenced writing poems. Needless to say, we DID NOT miss a day and have committed to continue creating a poem-a-day as long as he is in office. (Frankly, I’d be happy to quit, so please help dethrone him.) After more than 400 days of the challenge we began creating prompts to share. Poetry Lab was born.
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Poetry Challenge #132-Little Red Wagons Get Rolling!
The last Wednesday each March is Little Red Wagon Day, a holiday established by Radio Flyer in honor of their Little Red Wagon’s 100th birthday “to encourage kids to get outside, get active and go wherever their imaginations take them.” Let’s give it a whirl—with words!
Poetry Challenge #132
Little Red Wagons Get Rolling!
Norman has a little red wagon—that’s how he rolls! Bennett & Jack have one, too. How about you?
Do you remember bumping along the street pulling a little red wagon? Or maybe, as my brother and his friends did, attaching the wagon to your dog’s leash and trying to get him/her to tow you?
If you had a Little Red Wagon who or what would you fill it with? Or, if you’re the passenger, who’d be pulling the wagon? And where would your adventuring take you? Imagine the rhythm of the wheels rolling along. What does it sound like? What does it feel like?
Create a rhythmic Little Red Wagon poem by first creating a refrain evoking the sound and feel of the ride. See if you can use the refrain three times in your poem. *
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Start writing!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
*Social Media inclined: use #LittleRedWagonDay and tag @RadioFlyer to share
**Watch Radio Flyer the Movie!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge MORE THAN 1400 days ago! (APPLAUSE!!!) We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #131-The Miner's Lot
Sometimes it’s time to mine your writing for gems. These gems can become a take-off point for a new poem or story. Or, to paraphrase The Byrds:
There is a time, time-time-time/
for every stage-stage-stage/
Of a poe-eeemmmmm/
a time to create/a time to write/
a time to revisit/a time to rhyme/
a time to delete/a time to combine . . .
Poetry Challenge #131
Working In a Poem Mine, Digging Down-Down-Down
Read through some of your older poems. Pick a line or phrase that you like from three different poems. Then put those lines in some sort of order and write a new poem. Add words or lines as needed.
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Start revising!
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
And, if you, like Mary Poppins, think a song will help the job along. Here goes (and forgive me Lee Dorsey):
Working in a Poem Mine/Digging way down-down/Working in a Poem Mine/Digging way down-down/Working in a Poem Mine—Yeah! I wrote some words down/Working in a Poem Mine . . .
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge about 1400++ days ago (who’s counting?). We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #127 Feelings . . . Whoa Whoa Whoa . . .
Tell me all about it…
Relax, this is not an invitation to visit/revisit the analyst’s couch. But, yes, we are going to go all touchy feely, so get out one of your already written poems, and let’s get down to the nitty gritty:
Poetry Challenge #127
Tell Me How it Feels, How it Really Really Feels?
Poetry often deals with emotions: how we feel, what emotions an incident evokes, and too, how words—the placement of words, word choices/combinations—make us feel. But now, today, let’s go beyond those feeling and get really touchy feely.
Take out one of your already written poems. Don’t spend more than 30 seconds of your 7 minutes choosing—it’s not really about that poem, this challenge is about what feelings can do to/for that poem. When writing, we often focus on describing things through dialogue and action. We also often set the scene by describing what can be seen in a seen. However, we often overlook the physical, even though our tactile memories are strongest and reactions evoked shared. Try “chewing glass” for example.
Reread your poem, and ask yourself “What does it feel like?” And by “feel” think literally: What does each image actually feel like? Is it rough? Squishy? Smooth? Glassy or sandy? Does it slosh?
Try changing/adding feeling words to that image to conjure those tactile feelings.
If your poem doesn’t seem to have a tactile feeling to it, can you add one? Even more, try adding a tactile feeling to every line.
Now reread your poem. How does it feel, now?
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just feel it!
Start writing!
Whoa…Whoa…Whoa Take a listen: Feelings sung by Morris Albert
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge MORE THAN 1400 days ago! (APPLAUSE!!!) We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Hey Kids!
Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter!
Poetry Challenge #116-Prompt Time
Contrary to popular believe, there is a sure fire cure for writer’s Brain Freeze. At first you might baulk. Complain. Resist ala Baby in Dirty Dancing. But it works . . .
Poetry Challenge #116
Prompt Time
Writing from a prompt pushes you to write fast and helps you free your mind. Get your notebook or computer ready and set your timer. Below is a one-line prompt. You can use the prompt as your first line, your last line, or a line in the middle. Read it and then write as fast as you can. Ready:
No one tells me what to do…
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge over 1300 days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. (This one is Cindy’s.) If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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Poetry Challenge #115-Knit Wits
Think “knitting” and an image of the “quiet old lady whispering ‘hush’” springs to many a mind. But that’s bunk. At last week’s VCFA Writing for Children and Young Adults Alumni workshop flashing, clicking needles were everywhere. Co 7-Minute Challenge creator, Cindy, is a big knitter. So am I, in my fashion. And in the same way, so are you.
Knitting is such a useful word. In the same way yarn becomes sweaters, wounds knit back together. Families are closely knit. Brows knit in consternation or contemplation. Thoughts knit together become ideas, just as words knit together can be poetry.
Poetry Challenge #115
Knit Wits
In Merriam-Webster speak, knitting is “a series of connected loops,” so that’s where we’ll begin.
Close your eyes and write down the first word that pops into your mind. One word. That word will be the title of your poem.
Next, quickly list words that you associate with your word. From that list, choose the best five.
Take a moment to reorder those five words into a sort of pattern that makes sense to you.
Classic Knit-One, Purl-Two pattern
Let’s use our wits to knit those words together to create a poem. For our first effort, we’ll use a simple knit one, purl two pattern. Consider those five words to be your “knit” stitches. The “purl” part of our poem will be modifiers. Let’s get knitting!
Write your first “knit” word. Below it “purl” two modifiers. Below that purl, write your next “knit” word, then “purl” two; continue in this knit one-purl two pattern until you come to the end of your word list. Just like that you’ve knitted a 10-line poem.
Set your timer for 7 minutes
Don’t think about it too much; just do it!
Start writing!
*Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than Thirteen Hundred (1300, yes I am celebrating) days ago. We now take turns creating our own prompts to share with you. If you join us in the 7-Minute Poetry Challenge let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.