See Something New

Review of 2020

And now for our (optional) prompt. Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem in the form of a review. But not a review of a book or a movie of a restaurant. Instead, I challenge you to write a poetic review of something that isn’t normally reviewed. For example, your mother-in-law, the moon, or the year 2020 (I think many of us have some thoughts on that one!)

Roarin' 20's, version 2.0,
the start of a great decade -
best decade ever!
Or so Mel Robins and all
topics of self-help books declared.
I would pay off my debt,
put money into savings,
get a new job,
and eventually move!

January,
COVID-19 looms in Asia,
it's the talk of the office
in Conshohocken, PA,
Mel passes out the masks,
but people make fun of us,
Kyle, Mel, and I -
this isn't bound for the US,
jeering and taunts,
we're crazy, take it off!

Yet, life resumes as normal,
Chinese New Year in Philadelpia,
lions come to life,
no fear and no concerns;
we celebrate our Asian community
with love, year of the rat!
I have fun dancing and singing,
eating pho and gluten-free bao.

Ice skating and zig-zagging on ice,
selfies with strangers
late night laughter,
as workday Saturdays cease.
Cute ice rink employee,
stands near me, hugs me,
we laugh and talk,
he notices me!

February,
Anna and Allentown,
horror sideshow market,
ghouls and goblins,
a hatchet girl lamp,
catching up with friends,
meeting new people,
a cold day in February,
all seems right with the world.
My health is better,
almost back to normal-
"you shouldn't get
acute bronchitis this year,"
hopefully not, thrice the charm,
it's nice to feel healthy,
gluten-free and healthy.
I ice skate for miles,
dancing and twirling,
I've come a long way since 2019.

March,
the ice melts,
yet my feelings grow;
I just love the attendant,
yet he's moving away
come the fall,
new college, maybe.
COVID-19 now hits the US,
15 people and counting,
FAKE NEWS-
15 will turn into 0,
believe me, over night!

Mid-March,
the cases grow,
library closes as the county does too,
I'm working from home full-time;
I fought for myself
and I feel proud of myself.
Mary died, but not related to COVID,
we can't say our goodbyes
as COVID shuts all churches, synagogues and mosques,
we're bound by Zoom,
physically distant, but not social.
I pay off one credit card.

April,
Passover! I celebrate,
I cook a gluten-free meal;
kosher Easter,
both holidays as a family,
a new convert.
Playgrounds have closed,
I still take my walks,
stimulus checks,
grow my savings,
I'm slated to pay off
more debt by June!

There's no end in sight,
COVID-19 and quarantines,
continued physical distance;
yet, paying off debt
and saving, no vacations this year!
I grow my social distant network,
reach out to others
and hopefully join a Zoom synagogue.

2020 isn't what I pictured,
but through COVID-19
I will get financially healthy
and will start this decade,
Roarin' 20's 2.0,
on the right foot.