This past Friday, our mayor lifted the mask mandate in our town.
Not that any of the mask mandates in Florida are particularly enforceable. The governor long ago eviscerated the power of local communities to enforce them.Â
Still, with just 14.3% of Florida fully vaccinated, and only 26% having had at least one dose, it seems a little early, to be throwing caution to the wind. (Stats as of March 30, 2021 from the State of Florida Profile Report, supplied by the White House’s COVID-19 task force.)
Florida is not alone in jumping the gun. Many states are loosening restrictions, even while we hear warnings of a fourth wave.
To be fair, the mayor’s statement included a reminder, that he continues to “suggest” that we wear our masks, keep our distance, wash our hands, and get vaccinated when it’s our turn.
It was this part of his statement, that led to this poem.Â
Please continue to stay safe out there! Thanks for coming by to read.
It’s just a suggestion,
The server said,
As she poured my cup of brew.
The whipping cream
Forms a frothy head,
And sweetens the java, too.
It’s just a suggestion,
The salesgirl said,
As she looked me up and down.
It slims your hips
And smooths your dips,
You’ll look better, all around.
It’s just a suggestion,
The editor said,
I prefer this word to that.
But you’re the writer.
You can choose.
Though the sentence may fall flat.
It’s just a suggestion,
The statesman said,
If you like, take my advice.
If you don’t,
The choice is on your head.
And your life may be the price.
Copyright 2021 Andrea LeDew
For another poem about abdication of responsibility, read Doing Nothing.
No Sleep
If there is anything we should have learned from this pandemic, it’s that too many people don’t make good choices.
Not when left to their own devices, they don’t. Wouldn’t be much need for government if they did choose correctly all the time. 😊But when there is a need for government, it would be nice if government stepped up to the plate.
True on all counts!