In May and June, rebounding from the fun and success of our April call for haikus written at the height of COVID-19 social distancing measures, we at Country Roads partnered with Baton Rouge public radio station WRKF for another round. Burgeoning writers sent in their musings to be read aloud on the air, but no worries if you missed it—here is a roundup of some of our favorites from across the state.
Constantly working
from home simply fortifies
Existential angst.
—Mark Pethke
Walk down the middle
of once crowded city streets.
Stoplights are all green.
—Ann Burruss
Sunset fell in March
Before the coming sunrise
We walk alone now
—Daniel Schroeder
For some, a nice break.
For others, a boring time.
Nature can lift all.
—Nang Brown
A backyard haven
Underappreciated.
But not anymore.
—Tom Eldringhoff
My quarantine beard
compromises masks. Wife said
she likes... so it stays.
—William Assaf
Been zooming from home
for a season ... will ever
I wear pants again?
—William Assaf
My yard is my peace
Grass carpet, flowers my paint
Restful, beautiful home
—Tom Lamparter
humans hunker down
while frogs, snakes, birds, and bobcats
perceive peacefulness
—Gary Lafleur
Hard to bring full heart
to work, family, joy... while
so many anguish.
—William Assaf
Fluffy dog in chair
Sleeps even more than I thought
COVID Coworker
—Barbara Clark
Empty flower beds
blooming, blossoming, buzzing...
movement from stillness
—Blake Bell
Balcony visits,
Walking in the spring sunshine,
Pleasure in sorrow
—Ann Gonzales
Time to contemplate
Invite stress to boil over
And spill in my peace
—Lynn Wood
When the world goes quiet
And the birds song goes unheard
Do the flowers bloom?
—Ryan Dees
Colors fill canvas;
Dates drop from my calendar.
Silver lining now.
—Olivia Pass
Now I sew stitches
No more hugs and kisses
Covid repressed love.
—Fran Fransen
Morning. I’m awake.
No need to drive to work now.
I hear the birds sing.
—Susan Miller
