COVID-19

Buds on an apple tree, taken by Sister Karen Rose

I come to the crosswalk and need
not stop and look from side to side.
There is no traffic, no student joggers,
no cars coming in for the early shift,
but I hear bird songs I’ve never heard,
notice the drake calling for its mate
in the empty parking lot, watch rabbits
and squirrels race back and forth under
low hanging tree branches. Because
no longer is the early garbage truck
lifting at the dumpsters, I clearly hear
wind in the pines, far off cars whirring
down I-94 and can now hear clearly the
early morning tower bell notifying us—
prayer in five minutes.

Josue Behnen, OSB