As grim notices come in announcing closings and suspensions due to the Coronavirus — classes, library, art museums to name a few— we saw THIS video from Italy and had to smile. On a deserted, ancient, quarantined street in Siena comes the sound of housebound residents singing a traditional song out their windows.  And then we began to see more clips of people singing, playing instruments, calling out from windows and terraces…

It all reminded us of a fragment from a Mary Oliver poem:

Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.

Now that the big shocks have happened, along with adjustments to frightening limitation, humanity’s big heart is coming through.

The other day, an email circulated to residents of my apartment building proposing a group that would look in on elderly residents and be available to help them, go to the store for them, etc.

And in the Harlem park across the way, neighbors are hanging out in fresh air, playing music…

 

With thanks to Ruth Kissane.