Time Capsule
Unlock the door
Reach for the light switch
Walk into the Covid time capsule Everything is suspended in mid semester disarray. I look in the trash bin
Listen for a dripping sink
Smell for fresh coffee
Nothing
Reach for the light switch
Lock the door
Unlock the door
Reach for the light switch
Walk into the next Covid time capsule
I’ve already picked up all the bent paper clips and paper dots left from the hole puncher. Look for signs of life
Smell for lingering cologne or perfume
Listen for the humming of a computer
Nothing except the clock Reminding me that everyone else is at home Except us and the tea stained mug Reach for the light switch
Lock the door
Unlock the the door Reach for the light switch
I look at the placement of the desk chair
Has it been moved from it’s perfectly centered position I placed it in the day before
No
A crumpled up snack wrapper
Tells me someone was here
Surely they saw how I cared for watched over these office spaces Not knowing when and if they would return
We are here we have been here all along
The essential workers
Cleaning
Disinfecting
Sweating
Repairing
Inspecting
Mowing
Watching over this campus
Filled with empty classrooms
Stale office spaces
The dorm and apartments
Left in such a quick and frenzied manner that it would take us twice as long to prepare Disinfect
And make ready for the fall semester
Hopefully
To me these spaces
Give me a glimpse in to any ordinary day
Before Covid
When everyone planned on returning.
But they didn’t
Now we breathe through
Masks look through fogged glasses
We pray that we are not carriers
Of this virus.
We pray we can keep our jobs
We pray we don’t make our families sick.
I reach for the light switch
Lock the door to this Covid time capsule.