Options Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

There is no going 'back'.
To fun attractions.
And those kept precious,
Delusions had.
The experience of a vicious pandemic,
Will remain to leave...
Such an effective impression.
Left in minds for years yet to come.
With changes made by everyone.

A recovery to return to a 'normalcy'?
May be a wish.
To prioritize this on a top 10 list.
But that 'normalcy' to have has gone.
Becoming a 'myth'.
For future generations.
Disbelieving the swift quickness,
The severity of a pandemic...
Came suddenly to leave sorrow and suffering.
As if a slow moving tornado,
Devastating the entire World.
With belief and undenying grief.

There is no going 'back'.
There is only a moving forward.
And, that's it.
Unexpected changes have been made.
Introducing 'social distance'.
With solutions to prevent,
A re-occurrence of homemade ignorance.

And...
Giving people the World over,
Yet 'another' opportunity...
To express appreciation and respect to give,
Each other.
With conscious contributions made,
In the betterment of humanity.
And...
That's it.

There are no other options.
Whether to pretend them.
Or attempt to dismiss.
There is no going back to a past had.
There is only a moving forward.
With hopeful lessons to have learned.