Mirror, Mirror
by Hana Meron

I feel it too. The loneliness surrounds,
ethereal as air, deep as carpet stain.
The British have a saying: “Keep calm and carry on.”
When did that ever help a single starfish on the beach?
I want to hold your hand, like a little child crossing a street.
We will carry that starfish. Our knowledge how
will spare this world the ash of failure.
Piece by piece, we will rebuild. Chin up.
Carry on, soldier. Attention.

(c) Hana Meron Poetry 2021