The Pandemic Strikes Back: A Poem
WORDS BY HUY LE-TRAN.
BATTLING THE COVID-19 CRISISBreaking news on the telly
Reporting an invisible threat that is deadly
What was once the norm is now forgone
As routine is disrupted whereupon
Life as we know it would transform
A life of social distancing is now the new norm
An unrelenting virus that knows no bounds
Non-discriminatory, it spreads swiftly across all grounds
State and national borders forced to close
Local businesses struggle as business slows
Pubs and clubs no longer social hubs
In short, non-essential services struggle to hold up
Confirmed COVID-19 cases rise by the day
Rising feelings of anxiety and dismay
Livelihoods collapse overnight, alas rendering the working people jobless
An emotional toll leaving many more than just nervous
Panic buying and empty supermarket shelves
We need to look out for more than just ourselves
Yet in the face of great adversity
Many people have shown great acts of kindness and empathy
Self-isolating to protect workers on the frontline
Who risk their lives day after day on the battle line
Practising good hygiene to protect the vulnerable
To reduce spread of infection and increase rate of survival
Amidst this dire crisis lies adaptability and resilience
Compromising to work and study from home for instance
Self-isolation brings many families closer together
Spending more quality time like venturing on a baking, dancing or hiking endeavour
Discovering new hobbies, skills or even pandemic pet peeves
All the while staying virtually connected with friends and relatives
As confirmed cases start to decrease
After months and months of heeding medical expertise
Many countries start to ease lockdown
Yet we should not let our collective guard down
As it may be too soon to fall back
Lest the pandemic strikes back
EDITORIAL NOTE: This article has been reuploaded and was originally published in 2020.