The Vehicles Follow a Social Distancing of Their Own

With the surge in Covid cases comes the threat of another lockdown. Hopefully, not as draconian as the first one which emptied both streets and highways. And made me feel like a scofflaw.

The Vehicles Follow a Social Distancing of Their Own

I feel like a sneak evading

the law, traveling between the city

and rural retreat.

From a building with 140 units

to a lakeside cabin for two

in a region turned suspicious

of outsiders.

A breathing space

in these times of sheltering-in-place.

A haven lessening the risk of lungs

stiffening overnight.

Truckers still trucking but traffic

strung out like beads of sweat

on a feverish forehead.

And every time

I check the rearview mirror

the spiky virus reappears,

dimming another light behind me.

Marilyn Aschoff Mellor