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Writer's pictureAriel's Dream

Stepping Back by Donna Harlan



Photo by Bruno Nascimento


Stepping Back


We walk through life with one foot in

tomorrow,

even if one is in today.

The pandemic has taken away our stride,

forced us to bring the forward foot

back,

almost as if we’re standing

still.

We’ve had to learn to wiggle,

and sway

and dance in place,

because we have to move.

Standing still means to be

stuck

in Tuesday

forever

when we’re longing for Wednesday

but not sure why.

We find ourselves grateful for small things,

like only 30 days in April,

as if May was a new

beginning.

We say the poem about the months in our heads

to reassure ourselves.

Maybe all this “we” is really just me,

but I changed it because I wanted to put one foot

back

into the way it used to be.



 

The Author


Donna Harlan is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and has published one collection of poetry titled Bench by the Pond. Her work has been featured in several publications including Wingless Dreamer, Poets Choice, Nine Cloud Journal, and Finding the Birds. She resides in Jonesborough, Tennessee, with her husband where they delight in watching the sun rise everyday over the lake.



Donna Harlan

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