RHYMES ON COVID-19

There are epidemics of nobleness as well as epidemics of disease. – Anthony Froude

In moments of crisis, many become philosophers. When there is a disaster, it is difficult not to wonder and reflect, which is what philosophizing is. Some regard earthquakes and epidemics as expressions of God’s wrath: collective punishments for the sins of many and for humanity’s arrogance. Yet others excitedly recall past soothsayers who had predicted it all to perfection. Some cultural patriots appeal to ancestral ethnic medicines for cure. In the midst of all this, physicians and nurses seek to soften the suffering, and scientists strive to disable the virus. In their labs, they are working hard to meet the challenge and help humanity with medications and vaccinations.

We are living in difficult times.

I’ll reflect on this in simple rhymes.

I trust at least for a little while

They’ll bring to some a little smile.

It came sans warning: This assault on us.

Killing thousands, and more harm it does.

As to good and bad, in all her deeds

Nature cares not for races or for creeds.

Terrible this viral monster to us has been,

Wreaking frightful havoc seldom seen,

Raging in lands whether big or small,

Disrupting the lives of one and all.

We can’t go to movies or for a haircut,

‘cause every place in town is so often shut.

Closed are schools and places of learning.

We stay at home, even in the morning.

Confined to house, often in just a room

We hold meetings and classes, often using Zoom.

To people we see we merely say,

“Good day!” often from some distance away.

Hospitals don’t have enough beds.

This is something that everyone dreads.

Our plight is often made even much worse

When Covid infects our doctor and nurse.

There are leaders small and great:

Some acted quite soon, some rather late.

Covid to squash we are all eager;

Annoyed for sure with supplies that are meager,

We often wash our hands, we always wear our masks:

These have become rituals and our daily tasks.

Having lost their entire livelihood,

Many jobless people are struggling now for food.

News items we read again and again.

They are all full of death and pain.

Talking of Corona’s impact various;

some are calm and some get furious.

In the midst of this, many do pray.

But we all should also to ourselves say:

Let’s do our best to help those in need;

Wth cash or check let’s the hungry feed.

We’ll lose thousands more, that is true.

But from this may come good things too.

Even from evil that seems so bad

surprises may spring that make us glad.

Less cars on roads, fewer planes are there.

This may lead to cleaner air.

To each other we have things to say;

board games more often families play.

We are wasting less the foods we eat:

vegetables, fruits, meat and wheat.

‘cause food stores aren’t always open,

We fear supply-chains may be broken.

To help the poor who often say,

“I don’t have money doctors to pay,”

New laws may come to make health- care

free for people everywhere.

Caring and sharing must be our instinct;

Or else, our species will surely go extinct.

May all of us keep our spirits quite high.

Hope is always healthy, don’t ever ask why.