My daughter is in Argentina

carrying her joy

My daughter is in Argentina,
she sends videos of peacocks
and rainstorms and photos
of herself laughing, exotic
greenery all around, colourful
plates of food, good company
and I whisper, "Yes." Let her
be happy. Let her be away.
Last summer the smoke
from wildfires kept her inside
for weeks, sucking on lozenges
and puffers. This fall 
she caught Covid and struggled
for breath. She talks about
food prices and savings
and friends out of work
she talks about war 
and homelessness
and climate change
and she worries
about her mother
who is aging. 
So today let her rest
poolside and shop
along cobblestone streets
carrying her camera
carrying her joy,
today let her be.