For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Total (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Total Madness,” “Total Victory,” “Totally Awesome,” and/or “Total Cereal.” — Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest
totally empty
ok not really
actually I think I am coping OK
but there are moments
I feel totally empty
I can’t go to work
and now sleeping’s off-schedule
not allowed to see my mom:
all visitors prohibited
to keep the community healthy
my kid can’t come home
because dad sees patients with COVID19
so it’s safer for us to stay isolated
I comment on Facebook,
visit friends on Zoom
take a nap when I need it
read when my attention span allows
bake and sew like a century ago
and the days go by
inexorably closer to
whatever happens next
so much to take in
but still
totally empty