This Pandemic Just Ain’t No Fun

at first I thought,
with all the extra time,
I’d work on projects
clean this mess
do all those things I’ve been saving
for when there’s time

this pandemic just ain’t no fun

but school didn’t cease or pause
got shifted into my private space
bringing with it stress – unease – disquiet
as I, in compliance, hunkered down
with my pals The Black Dog and The Yellow Cat
quarantining with my own worst critic
the loneliness a greater enemy than the germ
that sent us all into our private holes

this pandemic just ain’t no fun

tablet games have eaten all my time
as I wander, room to room, and back
quick video calls replace the contact that I lack
brief smiles between periods of gloom
and yet the virus refuses to die back
how long, how long will my isolation last?

this pandemic just ain’t no fun