Only a phase
a cycle, small in the measure of time
(which is only a contstruct).

If you have faith in one thing
have faith in this —
All things are temporary,
and this is a great blessing
from our Mother.

It may not always be apparent
but every era has its end.
And though at times we
mourn such a passing
at others, we rejoice, and
all this being just a moment
benefits our bliss.

Your time in my uterus
your infancy
your teething twos
and seething threes —
I knew it wouldn’t last,
and it didn’t.
Now, I do miss it
(parts; sometimes),
though the gods know when
their sons and daughters need reprieve.

And so, my son —
All things are temporary.
Be grateful.

Have faith that one day
you’ll be big enough.
But for now, you’re small and you’re
enough to do so much.

Have faith
that sadness and rage and frustration
are part of the cycle.
And when you’re in it
I hope you find the power
to sit with those feelings.
It won’t feel pretty,
but it will aid you
in a lifelong quest to
know yourself,
to live your truth,
and to love every part of you
in every phase…
the Beast and the Beauty,
the Rhino and el Osito. ¹

Please have faith
that COVID is a phase.

It may not feel that way.
Half your life in lockdown,
talking with your cousins, four and seven,
about antibodies, vaccines, and
the number of tests you’ve had to swab
up your nose.
You won that one.
Six at age three.
All negative, Allah Jesus Gaia, save us.

Please know it will be a blip,
and we’ll never be the same.

We’ll be stronger and wiser.
And we’ll grow like trees or
fly like balloons. Whatever you
desire — bigger,
higher.

But once we’re up, we’ll have
to climb down.
“Earth’s the right place for love.” ²
The wheel of fortune always
swings around.
And when it don’t,
or feels like it won’t,
remember to feel it —
Until you can grow your way out
again and again.

It’s the human condition.
An exchange of energy.
Don’t forget to use your
power for good,
try to leave it better than you found it,
and it’s what you’ve meant to others —
what you leave behind as you
go from place to place —
That’s what’s infinite.
That’s what matters.

copyright 2022
Lorna Festa Hanson

A couple notes and references:

¹ el Osito translation – the teddy bear
² “Earth’s the right place for love” is a Robert Frost quotation from the poem “Birches”.