Palak Patel
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Watching
Pushes the dial of my clock
Yet pulls me in
With a shut door behind me
Waiting
For a signal of freedom
An alert of good news
To notify me of the end
Listening
To the waxing and waning
Of sirens headed to where
I used to walk to school
Thinking
It may be another month
Months
Of this solitude
Questioning
If my distance from others
Could even compare to
A patient’s from their family
Feeling
Guilt from my lack of action
Reminding my mind
Staying home is helping
Observing
The panic that easily ensues
And yet most of their panic
Is rightfully earned
Knowing
The glory for healthcare is broad
And consideration is needed
For the exposed custodians too
Anticipating
Until next time when it’ll be me
On the frontlines
Fighting