Open the Window
Open the window
and in-flu-enza —
an epidemic
joke not followed by laughter
Dark humor to avoid tears
Open the window
Let sunshine and fresh air in
Breathe deep, fill your lungs
For the moment it is spring
and daffodils are blooming
Sunset draws the shade
a chill comes in with the breeze
I'll close the window
and dream about spring flowers.
Come morning, windows open
Elise Skidmore ©2026
The opening stanza starts with a “joke” that was popular during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.
Another good one! You’re on roll. Keep on going!
Thank you, Linda!
I wasn’t so sure about this one, so I’m really glad you like it.
Love the words but the photo make it even more special
Thanks, Michael. I’m so glad you loved the words, but I can’t take credit for the photos. I didn’t take them myself. I’ve found pixabay.com to be a great resource for free photos of all sorts.