Under the same roof is where I have been,
Surrounded constantly by my very own kin,
Pacing the same hall,
Staring at the same wall,
Watering the same single plant,
Hearing inside of me a chant,
“Go out!”
“Go out!”
“Without a doubt!”
“Let go of your anger, worries, and stress,
Just be free from your same old confining address!”
But I can not ignore reason and sense,
The ones to blame for my being tense.
They protest:
“This situation must be assessed!
Do not go out and have all your fun,
For we all must remember your safety is number one!
First check the data, tests, and results,
and learn the effects they have on kids and adults.”
This dispute goes on and on…
I expect it to continue until Covid is gone.
[By now, most people have gone back to their past routines, with minor changes. This is not the case for my family. We are still staying ‘under the same roof’ for much of the time. As I watch others have fun and go about their lives, as if there is no longer a terrible disease in our midst, I wish that I could go about that way too. But I cannot, and my family’s warnings echo in my head. I hope that other teens that are in a similar position read this poem and know that they are not alone.]
Eliana Goldenholz is a thirteen year old living in Brookline, MA. She loves to read both fiction and non-fiction books, as well as learn about a wide range of subjects including math, physics, computer coding, and English literature.