Spring Will Come

As humankind groans under the burden of the pandemic, the natural world ambles on, oblivious. In some cases, it fills up the space recently vacated by the anthropocene, such as the dolphins in the canals of Venice. The country is girding for a lockdown, which is meant to pause life and arrest the spread of the disease. But, life won't really pause. We will still, hopefully, be provided food and utilities and both require enormous amounts of movement. And, the natural world won't pause either. The view from my window will change as the tree branches shed the greyness of autumn and sprout fruits, flowers and leaves. The songs of the birds will grow louder and chirpier, and the sunlight will stream into my window. In other words, the winter of pandemic won't last forever. Things might well become worse before they get better. But, spring will come.