The Toll Poem by Chen-ou Liu

One Hundred Eighty-Second Entry, Coronavirus Poetry Diary
a tanka prose written in response to America's half a million Covid deaths

'We often hear people described as ordinary Americans. There's nothing ordinary about them.' With a moment's pause for reflection, the President continues, 'The people we lost were extraordinary. They span generations. Born in America, emigrated to America.'

the flags
flying at half-mast
for five days
the White House
lit by candles

Television light flickers on a wrinkled face. 'So many of these extraordinary Americans took their final breath alone.' His voice is scarcely above a whisper.

the number
on the TV screen
in bold red
he stares into the future
from his nursing home window