Soft Emergence
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Sherrie Lovler

Soft Emergence

I have no idea what it will be like

to hug people again, to be close,

to look them in the eye

without a screen between us,

to see their smile—in real time.

I can’t imagine

eating out of the same bowl—

taking a handful of nuts

that others have touched,

buying food without washing it,

not seeing people

as carriers of disease,

not scrubbing down

everything in sight.

When this is over

will my cells jump for joy?

Will I come out okay?

Or will there be dark holes

that linger,

the scent of rubbing alcohol

bringing it all back?

I wonder if my heart

will explode when the veil lifts.

Or will there be

a soft emergence,

one foot put slowly

in front of the other,

not too far, not too fast,

like toes dipping into a cold stream,

and pace my arrival gently

into the new world—

whenever that may be.

Sherrie Lovler