tears for those that have left too soon

From my pandemic journal 4/20/2020:

Layers of grief already lay buried

in this land.

Added now so much new death and dying.

Not enough time nor ritual to ease the passage

or to help heal those crying.

How can we not feel the omnipresent fog of grief

passed each to each

 As each soul passes often anonymously,

 Without the comfort of family?

It is time to witness again

 Unnecessary and premature deaths.

Now hundreds of thousands.

The dancing prayers bring pause;

Sung psalms may ease, 

As we search for meager blessings in solitude.

Light a candle today

Offer a prayer for those we do not know,

Do a kindness for anyone.

Acknowledge the suffering disparity of people of color.

Vow to do better to fight for truth and injustice.

Honor those innocent victims;

Honor yourself with service to others even in the smallest way.

Each small step towards a better world brings us closer together;

 Away from the solitude of the grief we may deny hovering all around.

 Each hour is a death toll to our negligence.

My tears salt the earth today as so many before.

Let's be the country we all need it to be

Truth, Justice and Equality.