Ode to COVID-19

We met at Kibroth Hattaavah

In a symbiotic palaver

We are thriving as joint decision makers

From a climate change crisis

And we were hard

As hard as air

And we were so bold to lay down our lives

We came in as a disease

Like slay yeasts

We infected thousands

Like personae non gratae

And we learned fast to be streetwise

Our infamy was heavy

But our aim was heaven

We dug in steep

And rallied deep

And prayed to God with all of our might

We had no science

To cure our signs

And it was dark

So dark as night

But held on to each other

Like nation to nation

We promised ourselves we’d prevail

And we will all go up together

We said we’d all go up together

Yes we’d all build Earth together

Remember China?

Remember America First?

We left our manhood

On Bigotry’s demands

And who was wrong?

And who was right?

It didn’t matter in the thick of the fight

We held the Wuhans

In our crowded prisons

We ruled the Futures

Of commodity prices

Through the stock markets

We held the grains

From the hungry Slumburbs

And we were hard

As hard as air

To social distancing

To remand prisoners who’d not get a godfather

And we all stood down from Hubris

Now we will all build Earth together

We said we’d all build Earth together

Yes we’d all build Earth together

Corona! You crowned us with science for our lost humanity.

*This ode is an adaptation of the lyrics of Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel.

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