I Who All Through Lockdown

I WHO all through the lockdown
Hoarded Clorox and Deluxe Crown,
And traveled incognito the S&M porn underground;
Now I moan without a sound,
For the numbers might come down,
And the passport in the sock drawer may again prevail.

Now the freckled skin fades pale
Indoor odor, weedy trail,
And the fingernails and will to cling tight till tomorrow fail;
And the snowless sky spits hail,
Strong and rhythmic and shale,
And the passport in the sock drawer may again prevail.

Artwork: Megan Hill (first-year student) – The Norm, the Monarch and Miles

Chappell Roan “Pink Pony Club”

_{This poem is a modernized imitation of one of my favorites: "I Who All The Winter Through" I wrote last year. 

I WHO all the winter through
Cherished other loves than you,
And kept hands with hoary policy in marriage-bed and pew;
Now I know the false and true,
For the earnest sun looks through,
And my old love comes to meet me in the dawning and the dew.

Now the hedged meads renew
Rustic odour, smiling hue,
And the clean air shines and tinkles as the world goes wheeling through;
And my heart springs up anew,
Bright and confident and true,
And my old love comes to meet me in the dawning and the dew.

Robert Louis Stevenson}

17 responses to “I Who All Through Lockdown”

xtinatravels

I love this and I love the original as well. Excellent and timely tribute. What a fun video, too! ❤

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. So glad you enjoyed both elements.
  
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John Sherman

Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing this!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly for commenting and christening this post. Cheers!
  
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johnlmalone

love the unusual rhyme scheme and the images of unquiet desperation and that lifebuoy of Hope

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly, John. Feels like things are falling apart here again, but there is always hope.
  
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  1. johnlmalone
    
    that’s why I ended my story as I did; the initial ending was something like, ;I drove away alone and palely weeping’ ; much too downbeat 🙂
    
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Jeff Flesch

What a wonderful poem, K. Awesome all-around. And, I would love for our passports, yes, in the sock drawer, to once again prevail. I’m ready…

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1. K.Hartless
  
  I hope mine’s still in there when it’s finally time to dig it out. Thanks, Jeff. ☺️
  
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  1. Jeff Flesch
    
    I’ve been keeping an eye on mine. Lol. You’re welcome, K. Always. ☺️
    
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Ingrid

Excellent poem! I love the classic feel with a modern twist 😊

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thanks, Ingrid. It was fun trying on a different hat.
  
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Hobbo

Great last line. I love the poem’s optimism. We need it!

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K.Hartless

Yes, well I’m working on that. Thank you, Hobbo. 😀

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Michele Marsh

Very hopeful poem! My passport would be lost in my sock drawer! 😁
You’re spot on about the imagery too 👍

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thanks, Michele. It comes in spurts and starts here. Now is a time for nesting, I suppose, and hopefully soon we’ll be able to fly free again.
  
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  1. Michele Marsh
    
    I hope so although nesting has its perks too
    
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