Reece Burkaauthor

The poetic city: “Coming to Terms with the Virus While Meditating with Ava 4/20/2020”

May 04, 2020 • Creative Writing

: The poet, Reece Burka, and his cat, Ava contemplating life (Photo by: Reece Burka)

: The poet, Reece Burka, and his cat, Ava contemplating life (Photo by: Reece Burka)

: The poet, Reece Burka, and his cat, Ava contemplating life (Photo by: Reece Burka)

Coming to Terms with the Virus While Meditating with Ava 4/20/2020

Sitting on my meditation chair

I gently stroke Ava as I contemplate

the apocalyptic possibilities of the virus

and its aftermath.

As I think of all the things

I should have done or could still do

to prepare for the catastrophes

that might ensue, Ava purrs softly

and nestles into my lap.

Focusing my breath and tuning it with hers,

I feel the weight and warmth of her body

as it drapes across mine.

That’s when I can see that all my fears

are shared by countless others

who may already be living

the nightmare that I fear.

The feathered touch

of Ava’s tail as it twitches

across my forearm encourages me

to return to my Katrina moment

15 years ago,

To the very moment when I accepted

that I had no power over Katrina’s rampage

and all I could do was renew my faith

in the basic goodness of life.

That’s when I realized the futility

of trying to control the outcome of things

and committed myself to contending

with each moment as it arose.

That’s when things started to work out.

The reassurance of these memories

relaxes me and Ava stretches

to reposition herself.

I sense what a blessing I am

to Ava and what she means to me,

and I know without a doubt that

this virus cannot steal my spirit .

As I adjust my position in the chair,

Ava understands it as a signal that

our meditation is about to end.

So I give her three final strokes

and slowly raise myself to start my day,

and she leaps from my lap to start hers.

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