Haltingly, haltingly,
Barely breathing,
Corpuscles tortured,
Oxygen-deprived;
Panicked, titanic,
No lifeboats handy,
Cleaved by an iceberg
And now, capsized.
Seventeen bodies–
Cremation waiting—
Hidden from kin,
In the back, in the shed;
Nurses and doctors,
Half-dressed, frustrated,
Live-blog the carnage,
Some stricken, instead.
Millions shiver,
And palm their foreheads,
Whirling away
At the slightest cough;
Masked men deliver
Depleted provisions,
Dropping on doorsteps
And driving off.
Suffering, suffering,
Venting anguish,
Beeping, mechanical,
Dying, alone;
Stumbling tremors
Are felt for miles:
Thus falls Goliath
To David’s stone.
Copyright 2020 Andrea LeDew
This poem expresses the horror and human suffering of the pandemic better than anything else I’ve read. It was painful to read. As it should be.
Wow that comment is going in the hall of fame. Sorry to cause you suffering Liz, but thanks so much for the great compliment! Stay well!
You, too, Andrea!