To kick off ‘The #tpomarquarantinepoetry Series’, an Instagram suite of poems, I shared ‘Snowflakes’ – written from the prompt ‘collective grief’.

The Coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated anxiety and stress for many. It has also left us feeling a deep sense of sorrow, due to the postponement of our former lives. Concerts, travel plans, celebrations, etc. have all been put on hold indefinitely, appearing to be very much things of the past. In fact, experts have compared our shared loss of normality to grieving.

At face value, grief could be described in pretty generic terms, given that it is one of those rather universal feelings. However, much like the uniqueness snowflakes are renowned for, grief is experienced differently by every individual – as it is based on our relationship to who or what has been lost, cultural mores, etc.

In ‘Snowflakes’, the ‘distinctiveness of the selves departed’ is honored. These selves are both the ‘who’ and the ‘what’: The people who have passed and the little deaths of that which gave our lives meaning. It is also about looking for signs, imbuing events with significance, and finding solace in reminiscing.