THE PLAGUE WE CHOSE TO IGNORE (a Sonnet)
Centuries before Covid-19 hit
A pandemic infected this country.
And since it was a plague, we ignored it.
We whitewashed genocide and slavery.
We wore politically corrected masks
To shield others from verbal aerosol.
Treating the symptoms was a short-term task.
Red, blue and white pride came before this fall.
Historic disparities reared their heads.
Structural biases waged their impacts.
Statistics mattered, after all was said
By white men in power disputing facts.
Racism, the plague we chose to ignore,
Led coronavirus to Black folks’ door.
WE WEAR MASKS (a Novel Coronavirus PSA)
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— Paul Laurence Dunbar
This poem is a COVID-19 “remix” of “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. I tried to follow Dunbar’s original rhyme scheme and meter. I hope you enjoy it and take it as a “public service announcement” to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). You can listen to the demo on SoundCloud below. Peace, Love & Safe Passage!
We wear masks and save others’ lives. Covered beneath N-95s, Making our own to last a while. While presidential denials Try to downplay casualties. We wash our hands and sanitize To prevent a viral surprise. Bandanas to protect, not style. We wear masks. We smile to strangers with our eyes, And shop for essential supplies. We sing and post to our profiles. God bless the “remote learning” chile! While black men keep dropping like flies We wear masks. Chicago, IL
For more information on COVID-19 updates and prevention, visit the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html
Six-Word Stories 2020 – #94
Waiting in line for toilet paper!
ESSENTIAL OR IGNORANT (a blitz poem)
Hoarding toilet paper
Hoarding the essential
Essential is a relative term
Essential service
Essential good
Good die young
Good people still die
Die of loneliness
Die of ignorance
Ignorance with a megaphone
Ignorance in denial
Denial of the truth
Denial of facts
Facts based on evidence
Facts that can be verified
Verified by clinical studies
Verified by experts
Experts with experience
Experts with knowledge
Knowledge germain to the discussion
Knowledge is power
Power to influence
Power has sex appeal
Appeal to the base
Appeal to the unwashed masses
Masses cancelled in the vatican
Masses overwhelming hospitals
Hospitals providing curbside triage
Hospitals rationing their surgical masks
Masks to protect from airborne pathogens
Masks worn to masquerade balls
Balls of brass igniting presidential pants
Balls and bravado masquerading as brains
Brains of the operation
Brains are called sweet bread
Bread flew off the shelves
Bread and water
Water from springs
Water purified of pollutants
Pollutants that poison the air we breathe
Pollutants diminished when we stayed home
Home is where the hatred is according to Gil Scot-Heron
Home should be a sanctuary
Sanctuary from hatred
Sanctuary from the ignorant
Ignorant in bliss
Ignorant and contagious
Contagious like rumor spreading like a virus
Virus
Contagious
HAIKU 2020 #21
GOOD AND OPPORTUNITY (a blitz poem)
It is a black thang
It is all good
Good that die young
Good thing going
Going up yonder
Going up in smoke
smoke that smells of recreational weed
Smoke that never seems to clear
Clear the unfriendly skies
Clear your thoughts and mind
Mind over matter
Mind on my money
Money soaked in blood
Money makes the world go round
Round the horn of Africa
Round about midnight
Midnight hour
Midnight mass
Mass extinction
Mass incarcerated
Incarcerated means locked up
Incarcerated in penal colonies
Colonies of a motherless child land
Colonies subject to taxation
Taxation of goods
Taxation on services
Services provided
Services rendered
Rendered moot
Rendered unfit
Unfit parents
Unfit to stand trial
Trial and error
Trial of the century
Century after century of white supremacy
Century twenty-one and blacks are still redlined
Redlined and gentrified by square-block radius
Redlined by demarcated bike lanes
Lanes to stay in
Lanes for cash payments only
Only love can conquer hate Marvin said
Only love can conquer hate
Hate unfortunately can motivate
Hate crimes
Crimes against humanity
Crimes of passion and opportunity
Opportunity to change
Opportunity to change with the times
Times
Change
Keith M. Kelley | Poet 