litany for surviving 
by Hana Meron

soap for hands
clothes for body 
motion for body 
open hips 

food for body 
dishes for sink 
no, dishwasher
body to desk 

eyes to screen 
response is for emails 
stay here all day 
type it again 

body to couch 
eyes to large screen 
back to small screen
this is your rest 

phone up to ear 
loved ones away 
people stay far
this is good 

flowers for vase 
no for the soil  
joy is for soul 
joy far away 

Poet’s note: the title of this poem pays homage to Audre Lorde’s A Litany for Survival.
(c) Hana Meron Poetry 2021