This piece is in the work THOUGHTS IN A PANDEMIC. I was a Patient Care Tech during COVID-19’s initial onslaught in 2020. I had to write in hope. I had to write hope. -JBH
My shoes have
Hard soles
Inserts and memory foam.
The floors are concrete
And my feet and legs hurt
Without the comfort
Of the leopard print
Compression socks.
Body made hard and
Soft at the duty of
Being guardian of
The living, the quick and the dead.
Life is coming
In the rolling thunder
Wrapped in coalition
Of color down a hall.
Beautiful are the feet of those
Who bring the good news.
Life is coming.
Life is here.
Life is on the way.
-JBHarris, July 2020
I Breathe Fire 