“Promising Normalcy”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Promising normalcy
for a while, at least
like a waltzing onomatopoeia
while ringing in New Years’ Eves
via-á-vis black diamonds for skiers
tipsily sipping “double” or “triple” drinks
after qualifying for seriously seismic
frequent flyer miles…
“Dashed Plans”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Dashed plans
searching for answers
and greater understanding
feeling disconnected to everywhere
anesthetizing polar bears post Santa
adding ear tags
hoisting spring scales
hanging in the air…
“The Main Takeaways”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
The main takeaways/from an increasing contagion/alert levels being urgently raised/sweeping tidal waves/feeling desperate for a change/hopping onto planes to the latest destinations/along with triple vaccinations/while providing concierge services for rapid testing at the very best hotels/adjusting the spacing between, as typed-up letters/first then reversed/left unlearned/splurging during a surge …
“A Similar Sweeping”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
A similar sweeping/reopening doors/allowed to cross borders/ toting, “vaccine passports”/“Now you’re talking!”/seeing one another shortly/as a trade off/for the greater outdoors/of varying trails/some short some flat/over undulating foothill passes/of pick-and-mix/having been raised in the hills/down to double figures/of chin dimples …
“Grappling with Tragedy”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Grappling with tragedy
having come under attack asking,
“Have you heard of trip-stacking?”
via travel booking apps
for skittish passengers
feeling frazzled forced to cancel
due to travel bans and vicious variants
finally—not knowing which masks to pack …
“Viewing Footage”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Viewing footage of scrambled families
in “all that’s happened”
vowing to complete the evacuation as planned
mournfully calling parents
of those “killed in action”
“What America says matters”
along with the capacity to strike back
as bodies bob in a canal after horrific blasts …
“Coming to a Close”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Coming to a close hurrying home
having, “Gone for the Gold”
savoring moments gone widely unnoticed
like a plain old name in the most simple way
leaving an empty stadium
having extinguished the flame
post celebration
self-coronated fading shapes
elation left in the wake …
“Delta Variants”
by Suzán Jiván Mom & Mom-Mom Suzán
Delta variants hitting snags
capturing scenes from a dude ranch
head wranglers herds staring
foals scrambling gold-tinted grasses
exhilarating trails scattered cabins
scrimshawed knife handles grizzly bears …
