#21. Corona Cake and Ice Cream

It's the morning
of her daughter's fortieth birthday,
clouds shroud a corner of the sky
where bluebirds used to fly.
She remembers how beautiful it all was,
before the pandemic, golden days
she took for granted, sounds of laughter,
pink streamers, flickering cake candles.
Deep in crisis mode, nerves jangling,
she wonders where this path will take them;
or if they've reached a dead end.