Once I would have scrolled past the souvenir

postcards someone shared online —

dismissed them as constructions,

kitschy ways to tell me, Come on down!

But yesterday after months alone,

the images drew me in.

A botanical garden with visitors on winding paths,

under a bloom-covered arch, beside a cascading fountain.

An art museum with patrons by a reflecting pool

surrounded by statues of gods and humans.

A park with hikers posed near sandstone arches

shaped by salt beds, eroded by wind and water.

Then — like the unforeseen sting

of a jellyfish —

a deep and sudden longing

pulled me from my reverie.

There in the Cape May surf, a dozen

laughing swimmers side-by-side —

some touching, others face-to-face —

awaiting the next wave.

I have long avoided crowds.

Yet by last night, certain ads

on television, even muted,

sparked the longing again.

In a busy park, a foursome jogging.

At a pavilion, tables of picnickers.

In a classroom, children at desks

engaged in group work.

I want the nearness of others.

Catherine DeNunzio lives in Ledyard.

Poetry in a Pandemic offers local readers a chance to share their poetry written during or related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. To contribute, email times@theday.com.