This dog, Henry me and my dog visit on our walks. He always acts like he’s seeing us for the first time in 15 years.

I hope we learn how beautiful life is

In case anybody didn’t know

How precious it is to receive a smile

Or touch 

Or companionship.

How you can be free if you let yourself;

How fighting for love is brave like a lion;

And apathy is the devil talking.

I hope we learn community; 

And how much we focus on things that don’t matter;

And how life is too fleeting 

Too fragile 

To ever take moments for granted

Or restrict ourselves

Or refuse to connect with

And understand 

Everyone and everything around us.

I hope we learn softness and kindness.

We can consiously appreciate what it is to be seen

And to see others.

I hope we learn gratitude. 

People have lost everything 

Or they just lost 2 months of the fun of college.

No matter what we have or lack,

We should collectively feel this

The eerie moment of unprecedented change

Your situational rug being pulled out from under you

And dragging you along with it.

How life can be yours for the taking

And before you know it, it’s taking you.

And you realize, 

The people who truly matter to you at that moment

The things that bring you true happiness

With shocking, blinding clarity

You beat yourself for ever straying your eyes from the prize.

And you learn from it. 

I hope we learn what really matters.

Or we should; 

Once we’re out of this moment,

Don’t put it behind you. 

Remember what you’re longing for;

Learn what you long for, 

And run after it. 

Accept the gift of life.

Learn what you had been missing.

-Avery Walker

**Sorry if there are punctuation mistakes, I don’t really know how to punctuate free verse poetry correctly. I know we’re sick of hearing about The Rona but this is what has been on my mind, just thinking about the aftermath of all this, and how I really hope people are kinder and gentler and can see the happiness in life clearer as a positive outcome of this mess. Thanks