Shedding
by Gayle Brandeis
The virus sheds
and sheds
us
of illusion—
illusions of safety
of security
of separateness
The virus sheds
and sheds
light
on inequity
on injustice
on our interdependence
The virus sheds
and we shed
tears
shed
light
for one another,
offering compassion
and commiseration
material help
and wisps of hope
The virus sheds
and we are called to shed
what
doesn’t
serve
us
so we can
focus
on
what
matters
