The ROM was my favourite happy place Where I could trace Ancient majestic and royal faces Of Egyptians, Romans and Greeks I’d listen as busts and sculptures speak Their stories sublime Rich of this aura of renaissance history And Nefertiti’s magic kiss I used to walk in great mens shoes Down the road at the Bata muse But this year was filled with virtual virtuosity And images of reminisce The winter sunrise is picturesque Lake Ontario shimmers beneath its breath Creating an impressionist painting I can almost touch I rise along with it welcoming art back into my life And soon this city too will rise From the lockdown and dismantled life That this new normal requires I walk the Kay Gardner Belt-line Trail Hugged by nature, greeted by pale Reflections of people wearing veils Everyone has been indoors as instructed Quarantined or else confronted By people wearing masks of every kind I adjourn my walk under the bridge Adorned with graffiti and art masterpieces Pieces of people who have pages to fill But leave their imprint on empty abandoned walls instead I know now how free I’d been Back when I used to go Down the road to the AGO Immersed in the brush strokes of Van Gogh I was in no rush To leave and get on the 501 streetcar To meet friends on King West At that chic new bar Life was quite different then City scapes remind me that life still happens behind those high-rises Maybe once they’re allowed out Folks will leave behind their disguises - Kerry Jo Bell