By Germina Melius
Corona 19
Unmasked, the uncompassionate one of indifference,
wanders through my darling earth.
She sneezes, men fall like leaves.
Her arms are deadly like her mouth, they lead death to her prey.
Mental stress, the illness absorbs mankind, jobs lost,
money becomes a ghost.
Poverty rises to the sky, the world lamenting its demise
calls to the Creator of time.
Our hospitals overwhelmed with tear stained cheeks,
people cry in lamentation.
Some will live to tell Corona’s tale to their unborn children.
“A virus brought the world to its knees with death and paranoia.”
The virus of uncertainty now plagues our fragile future.
Pandemic
any cough
every cough
running away from a coffin
*
in the belly of homes
bees hidden in combs
waiting for honey
*
on this road
precaution signs
viral stalker
*
wondering
the end of a meddler
burying my mask
Germina Melius is an emerging writer, and Genealogical Research Assistant from the beautiful Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. Her literary work has been featured in The Caribbean Writer Magazine, Business Focus Saint Lucia, Inner Child Press’ Anthology (writers for humanity), PoetryandCovid, Haiku Corner, The Haiku Foundation blog: Troutswirl, World Haiku Anthology, Ginyu Magazine, Failed Haiku Journal, and ASAHI Shimbun. Germina enjoys writing fiction and haiku. When she is not writing, she enjoys reading, photography, helping others and spending time with her family.
During the pandemic, some people discovered their literary talent. I sought to satisfy my soul and circumstance in creative writing by joining some creative writing groups. I learnt a lot about expression, emotions, support, encouragement and friendship, and the use of social media as a powerful tool for creative writers leading to an increase in self-published books. I was shocked at the number of people suffering from mental illness who found solace in poetry. With significant increases in job losses and the ‘lock down’, as a remedy for mental stress, many people sought to satisfy their souls in creative writing, predominantly poetry. We became better listeners, writers, collaborators, learners, helpers and innovators.
Enjoyed this poem!
Thank you. (I never thought I would experience a pandemic as this in my lifetime.)
Hey, this is lovely. And pertinent. “Poverty rises to the sky” poignant and true.
Thank you.