Analysis of Pandemic Kids

Covid, covid 19
pandemic, the virus
SARS-CoV2

who knew
such demonic words
would spit
and spill upon us
like so many aerosol particles

who knew, indeed
that a mask
would be omnipresent
all part of the uniform
on full-time civic duty

who knew
that vinyl circles
would stand sentry
two meters apart
two compliant feet on each

who knew
that shields of plastic
would mute our words
present a confounding clear barrier
to our struggling ears

how to understand
this troubling new world
this one we wait in
wait in
for the one that once was

I look to a playground
on my circular walk
and see kids being kids
smiling veiled smiles
giggling muted giggles
I feel comforted
they don’t appear sullied, not yet
by the paper masks or the vinyl circles

instead their whimsy
their fancy reminds me
not to wait, but to play
just play, as kids always do