Andi Winter

Photo credit: Pixabay/mintchipdesigns

‘apocalyptic’

that, and ‘unprecedented’

—those words make me sigh

Photo credit: Pixabay/whoalice-moore

ah, 2020

COVID, riots, wildfires

U.S. elections

the only good thing so far:

my newfound deep love for Rush

-This one is technically a tanka (5-7-5-7-7).

Take a listen/watch. If this doesn’t lift your spirits, try it again.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Engin_Akyurt

“Could this year get worse?”

I try to stop her asking

because always: “yes”

-You would think people would know better than to tempt fate.

Photo credit: Pixabay/mintchipdesigns

at least there’s no talk

of yeast or bean shortages

or murder hornets

-This is me trying to look on the bright side of Impending Doom.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Ylvers

too early for snow

tiny flakes of grey flit down

from sickly yellow skies

-The sky looks like a normal Oregon overcast day, except it isn’t. It’s all smoke with bits of ash raining down.

the burnt orange sky

campfire taste in the air

instinct begs me to run

-On driving down I-5 South from Portland, and into a steadily darker world of wildfire smoke during what should be daylight hours. Photo was taken at 3 p.m. Notice the streetlight on. The sky was slightly darker than this (cell phones are not true cameras). Coronavirus has nothing on wildfires.

a Greyhound in hand

under the shade on the deck

—what summer delights

three days off from work

wandering the house barefaced

unexpected joy

—on not having to wear a mask at home

what ‘vacation’ means:

escape from reality

no chores, much lounging