pandemic
I stare into
a bagua mirror*
*an octagonal mirror that wards off evil
quarantine
keeping my poems
inside the lines
pandemic
a mask to shield me
from unkindness
stay-at-home
I put on a yellow dress
to match the walls
isolation
the clock’s tick-tock
amplified
lockdown
the backyard cat
has somewhere to go
zoom meeting
I worry about
my double chin
stay-at-home
we doll up
for virtual meetings
Bio: Jackie Chou is a poet residing in Southern California. She writes free verses and short form poetry. Her work has been published internationally. She was nominated for a Best of the Net in 2017 by Hidden Constellation.