Normal (Poem)

Normal

Already, I know too many people

who cannot help flatten the curve

who cough till they gag

no ventilators left to channel them

air in the absence of drugs to

keep open a passage to breathe

They watch as their temperature rises

and their cliff grows more steep

their doctors gowned

in personal protective equipment

we all likely need

We watch each other

fighting for a twelve-pack

of baby-soft Charmin,

taking the last potato, the aloe

gel and alcohol, the antiseptic

wipes that can’t do the washing

away of clean water and soap

Who’s sick

who’s not

we can’t be sure

We’re told to practice

social distancing and self-isolation

turn to our Facebook and Twitter

screens that too-long bathe our faces

in light of disinformation

Today, an earthquake in Utah

shuts down what yesterday

still worked, Canada closes

its border to

what’s not essential

tents go up as hospitals

again, the president speaks up

to take no responsibility

Here, where family is not,

I scrub my shower with Lysol

dress for a day that will repeat

itself after every tomorrow

ask for nothing

when so many need more