COVID-19
Dear COVID
Oh COVID
you have a DASH 19
after your name
and I have no idea
what that means,
I don’t think anyone does.
But what I have learned
from you
is more about who is essential
like health care workers
and grocery store stockers
and checkout clerks
and gas station attendants
and delivery people
I always liked them
I like them even more now.
I have learned that it is
not essential to go to
Costco when the Cape Cod chips
are running low.
I have learned that
I may come out of this mess
a germophobe, because now I know
that my friend’s dad
who shook someone’s hand
10 days ago then sneezed
on a door handle my friend opened
can pass a virus to me,
I can’t unlearn THAT!
I have learned how far people
will go to deny data
and common sense
when it affects their
sense of self.
And how many people feel better
comparing you to past events
when there is no comparison,
for you are NEW.
You have shed the fairytale bliss
that we control our economy
and left us to guess
whether our government
– just this once –
could be our savior.
You have created a dream chance
for us to watch television
and save the human race…
you think more of us would listen,
maybe we’re starting to.
COVID-19,
Most days I’m mad at you
Some days I’m grateful
All I can hope is that
you are the one
who finally changes us.