Kevin Patrick Sullivan 

San Luis Obispo, Ca. USA

Kevin Patrick Sullivan is a Poet Laureate Emeritus of the City of San Luis Obispo, Ca. He is Co-Founder and Curator of the Annual SLO Poetry Festival established in 1984.  He was the Co-Founder and Curator of the Corners of the Mouth a monthly reading series of featured and open readings held at Linnaea's Cafe in San Luis Obispo, Ca for 35 years (1984 - 2019). He is the author of three full length collections of poetry as well as many chapbooks. His publications include, Askew - ArtLIfe - SOLO - LUMMOX and MIRAMAR.

Poem was written 10th April 2020

 BALANCE

This Corvid-19 ends up

Slowing -------------------------------stopping

The breath

So we try to keep space

Between                                       us

6 feet at least

Social                                       Distancing

But I think somehow

The physical separation fosters

A spiritual connection

We are zooming to a new world

Breathing

With

                                         Space

Between                                       us

Sharing  has always been the way of life

This connection through the

Molecules we inhale    /    exhale

Reminds us just how close we really are

Like a wildfire shedding hot embers

Leaping from tree to tree

Burning

Each other down our survival in the

Balance

As we regain our sense of

Touch

I really can’t wait to

Hold you.