Life in the Time of Corona
Viral Hunt
John Gibson
John Gibson is the author of three novels: Patriot Victory, Painkiller, and Soul Sprints – the latter of which won the Grand Prize in the 2018 Words Matter Publishing Holiday Book Contest; and one work of poetry, titled Arduous Vales. You can learn more about him and his work at https://johnwgibsonauthor.com and find him on Facebook (“John W. Gibson, Author”).
“Immuno-compromised, orphaned-at-12-by-sickness”
Sits brooding at the window,
Staring into an uncertain universe;
Anxiety rising like the
Heat wave brought on by early Spring and Summer;
Her mind a frail admixture
Of pain-stricken, doleful memories
Fueling the turmoil of today.
“Recovering, relapsing, needs-to-keep-busy”
Ambles by
In search of something to kill the idleness –
And just maybe stave off that hard-liquor demon once more.
A can of paint for that drab-colored garage,
Or a box of nails,
Anything to thwart the ol’ Beam bottle.
“Immuno-compromised” bellows
That now-common refrain about “staying home” –
About “doing your part” …and other choice daggers
Meant to drive home the point – and drive in pain.
“Recovering” is now, in earnest, recovering,
This time with the added handicap
Of weighty expectations of the masses upon him;
Vile words and hurts transferred – shared – between broken people,
Beings united by pain, and not humanity.