CORONAVIRUS DAY AND NIGHT

CORONAVIRUS ON TV.

CORONAVIRUS WILL OR WILL NOT

BE THE END OF YOU AND ME.

CORONAVIRUS IN THE NEWS,

CORONAVIRUS ALL THE TIME,

I DON’T KNOW HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL

BUT GETTING TIRED OF IT I’M.

YOU CAN’T GO TO A MOVIE AND

YOUR WORKPLACE HAS SHUT DOWN.

THE SCHOOL IS LOCKED, YOUR CHURCH

DEFLOCKED, AND SILENCE FILLS THE TOWN.

HMM. PEACE AND QUIET; NOT HALF BAD!

IT SEEMS LIKE FOLKS GET FRIENDLIER

WITHIN SIGHT OF THE REAPER’S KNIFE.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE MORTALITY

TO SPONSOR LOVE OF LIFE

SHELTER IN PLACE.

DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE

IT’S LIKE A GAME OF SIMON SAYS —

NEW RULES YOU’RE LIKELY, SOMETIMES, TO IGNORE.

WHO’S WINNING AND WHO’S LOSING?

LET THE CORONER KEEP SCORE. 

YOU CAN’T HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS NO MORE –

THEY’RE WAVING FROM THE OTHER SHORE.

LET’S HOPE THE OTHER SHORE IS

NOTHING LESS THAN SIX FEET NIGH.

YOU GET TOO CLOSE,

YOU MAYBE DIE.

WE DON’T KNOW WHO’S INFECTED 

AND WHO’S (THANK YOU, JESUS) NOT.

THE DEVIL, AS IT TURNS OUT,

IS A MOLECULE OF SNOT.

AND SINCE HE’S FAR TOO SMALL TO SEE

YOU MUST REMAIN ALERT:

PLEASE WEAR A MASK FOR EVERY TASK,

A CONDOM, DENTAL DAM, GALOSHES, GLOVES, 

AND A HAIR SHIRT.

MY FAVORITE DRINK WAS VODKA / TONIC,

NOW IT’S VODKA AND PURELL.

I’M GONNA HAVE A TIDY COLON

WHEN I GET TO HELL.

(A FRIEND OF MINE CONCOCTED 

THAT FINE, ANTISEPTIC BREW;

THEN, SUDDENLY, THE DUDE EXPIRED.

I WOULD HAVE CRIED, BUT I’M RETIRED.)

YOUR ATTITUDE WAS POSITIVE.

PANDEMIC PUT AN END TO THAT

BECAUSE YOU’RE STUCK AT HOME

WITH YOUR MEAN SPOUSE

AND ANTSY BRAT.

YOU’D DEARLY LOVE TO HOP THE FENCE,

BUT AREN’T ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

YOU’RE SIMPLY STUCK. 

CAN YOU SAY “@#$%&#” ?

THERE’S NOTHING TO ALLAY THE STRESS,

EXCEPT TO CLOWN ABOUT A BIT.

GO STUFF SOME MEDICATED CHARMIN’ 

IN YOUR SISTER’S BORROWED BRA,

PUT ON YOUR WIFE’S OLD WEDDING DRESS.

AND MINCE ABOUT. HA HA.

THE KIDS THINK YOU’RE A HOOT, OF COURSE.

(THE GROWNUPS KNOW YOU’RE SIMPLY COARSE 

AND HALF A BUBBLE OFF.)

AND THEN THE FEVER STARTS, AND THE DRY COUGH.

YOU’RE OUT OF FOOD, THE RENT IS DUE,

THERE’S REALLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO

BUT GASP AND WHEEZE AND, FINALLY,

(sorry)

CROAK.

YOU GAVE THIS LIFETIME YOUR BEST SHOT 

BUT WERE LAID LOW BY MICROSNOT:

VIRUS, VIRA, VAROOM.

FOR SOME FOLKS LIFE’S A DIRTY JOKE,

THEY TOTE THAT BARGE AND LIFT THAT BALE

THEN TAKE THEIR HARD-WON WINNINGS 

TO THE TOMB.

SOME OTHERS, MORE LIKE YOU AND ME,

JUST WOBBLE FORWARD UNCERTAINLY

AND GAMELY HOPE WE DON’T SUCCUMB.

AT SUCH TIMES LIFE SEEMS SOMEWHAT

BLEEPING DUMB.

TO LIVE LONG IS A GOAL

WE SHARE. BUT

FACE IT, JACK, IT’S QUALITY

ABOUT WHICH WE SHOULD CARE.

LONGEVITY MEANS NOTHING

WITHOUT HAPPINESS AND GRACE.

COMPASSION AND / OR EMPATHY

GIVE LIFE WHAT VALUE IT CONTAINS.

APPRECIATION WINS THE PRIZE,

AND OFFSETS ALL THE PETTY PAINS.

WE CELEBRATE GOD’S HOLY NAME

AND SEE HER HAND IN EVERYTHING

WHICH HAPPENS ON THIS SPINNING LUMP OF MUD,

INCLUDING THAT WHICH SEEMS WAY TOO SEVERE.

AS EXPLANATIONS GO – THERE’S NONE; 

YOU CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE.

WE MAY DIE SOON OR WE MAY NOT.

LET’S FACE IT, JAKE, WE DON’T KNOW SQUAT.

AND YES, YOU’RE RIGHT, 

IT ALL SEEMS MIGHTY STRANGE!

STILL, AFTER ALL THE FUN AND PAIN,

YOU SMILE SADLY, SHRUG,

AND JUST ACCEPT

WHAT YOU CAN’T CHANGE.