On Wearing a Mask

This is not a political stand.

This is an act of kindness

Kindness toward those we love

And those we will never meet again.

Kindness upon all sharing passage across

This strange, dark sea.

This act makes no bold statement

About where you stand on the political divide,

But only says, “I care”.

“I care that you may be vulnerable.

I care that you may be afraid.

And, whether that fear is justified or not,

I care enough to stop my breath from caressing yours.

I grant you this smallest release from the weight of your fear.

An act of kindness.

That is all this is.

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