Virus Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Even those trained,
To be strong and brave.
Are not without feelings,
Of being afraid.
With a commitment made,
To defend against...
What is not to see.
But told is the enemy.

This enemy is not sold,
To market to sell videos.
Or can be depicted,
As your 'average' terrorist.
This enemy is a virus.
Randomly knocking on everyone's door.
And equipped with an ability,
To maneuver from one to the next.
Disregarding who may be dressed,
In full combat to address its attack.

Everyone is reminded,
They must keep a social distance.
From relatives and friends.
To mask their appearances.
And not necessarily to protect themselves.
But to keep others from being infested.
By what they may have...
Neither to feel or suspect it.

How can anyone prepare,
For an 'enemy' like this.
Leaving the best of scientists,
Left baffled and stunned...
How this could happen to be done.
Without explanation,
How exactly this began.
Or where it came from.

And always it is the Chinese,
Accused and blamed for their 'expertise'.
Where companies the World over,
Conduct their business.
To accumulate profits.
Increasing their pockets.
With it done to have the Chinese,
Dependent upon to come to their aid.
Without it to reveal,
Everything in their homes...
Has been Chinese made.

Even those trained,
To be strong and brave.
Deluded to be warriors.
Remaining to stay,
Unafraid to face...
Anything that comes their way.

But...
These days there is a virus.
Given a name of 'convid-19'.
No one before has ever known.
But fearing it everyone is.
Without warning it shown,
It has no preferences...
Of religious affiliations.
Racists or their childish bigotries.
Amendment rights or entitlements to keep.
Where walls are built.
To isolate kept ignorance.
Who has wealth to have above the 'nots'.
This serious pandemic...
Will be remembered by everyone.
Experiencing tears from all eyes to drop.
Never to forget,
What greed and selfishness has started!