By Elaine Smart
For the Salisbury Post

I was looking back at some of my poems recently and found this one written in 1987 that made me think about the times we are going through during this season of the coronavirus, and the range of emotions that we tend to navigate through on a daily and weekly basis. I’m comforted to know that our savior is not unaware of the many emotions that we go through, as he experienced a whole array of emotions during his time here on earth. He is always there to help us navigate and help us through them. I hope this poem will help put some perspective on our lives this season:

What is this thing called life

So filled with pain and strife

So hard we struggle here

Holding the tell-tale tear

What is this thing called love

Hurting but healing too

Fitting like hand in glove

Seaming with human glue

What is this thing called joy

Clutching like child and toy

Approaching and leaving soon

Like a psychotic tune

What is this thing called fear

Fleeing then drawing near

Kidnapping all our peace

When will it ever cease

Where do we go from here

What makes us open our eyes

Looking to God on high

That’s where the answer lies

Sometimes it seems so tough

Trying to live is rough

Fighting with every hour

Tasting not sweet, but sour

Yet when the joy is strong

There is no right or wrong

For every newborn child

All of humanity smiled

Someday this won’t be so

Life won’t be touch and go

There will be that great day

When evil is wiped away

 

Elaine Smart lives in Salisbury.