I can’t blame it on COVID

It was there before

I’ve been this way for a while and I know it

Please, don’t call me to share any news

I’ll stay at home and read the reviews

Please don’t invite me to dinner

It’s nice of you

But I’d rather be on the beach with my dog in the winter

No events, no parties

You won’t even find me on social media

Am I lonely? Hardly.

My story, your story

All the details like frosting

Listening and talking, it’s all so exhausting

Hand me a book

I’ll take a look

In an open field or in the forest

Hopefully you don’t think I’m a pessimist

If you do, that’s okay

I’d rather not talk about it, anyway

I’ll be over here

Observing, note-taking, thinking

We’re all part of a grand story in the making

Best wishes to you, through the window, in a post

In the grand scheme, we’re all ghosts

Passing through

I’m okay right here

Silence and solitude, a melodious tune

Soon enough we’ll all disappear