(Student Submission)
Theme: Community in Isolation
Artist Statement:
Many of my family members, myself included, had a birthday that occurred during COVID, and like many we were unable to celebrate with our regular cookouts and a beach weekend. So, we chose one date in April (which seems like forever ago) to celebrate everyone’s birthday, coining our get together “COVID Birthday Bash.” My family stretches across quite a few countries. Hence, finding a time was, well, challenging, but easier than usual, considering everyone was working from home, so I suppose that’s a plus. But, I digress, my family was able, like usual, to create a very special get together despite the international plights and fears regarding COVID.
April 19th, 2020: The day when an Italian family joins across seas via Zoom to celebrate a birthday, yet still finding time to create a COVID 19 monologue
When will I feel my pleather sneakers prance over the cobblestone paths?
When will I feast upon a cone of “solo limone” with a golden wafer placed atop its head?
When will I let my ears entertain the gurgling and groaning fountain of the Dead?
When will I billow between tourists whose eyes flock to the baths?
When will I feel the warmth of family and friends around the hearth?
When will I breathe the boastful bubbly body of the homeland’s bread?
When will I strut the promenades in fitted leather smelling of Venetian red?
Heavens, tell me, when will we wriggle free from your wrath?
We will when the doctors’ shifts pull to a close.
We will when those who suffer are healed.
We will when the world can raise a toast.
We will when the farmers are gifted luscious fields.
We will when we flock to the sandy coasts.
Amore , tra poco , we’ll rejoice with those far afield.