Short Words for the Pandemic
Only yesterday I remarked,
‘I don’t know anyone
who’s had COVID.’ Now I do.
Sweet, bright soul went to sleep
last night and never woke.
23/10/2020
living alone
seven years widowed –
what iso stress? *
*********
law: mask not scarf –
ear loops keep ripping out
my hearing aids
*********
first COVID death
of someone I knew –
it becomes real
25/10/2020
trick or treat –
wash the candy
don’t breathe in
*********
trick or treat –
one at a time please
to the door
28/10/2020
* In Australia 'iso' has become a common abbreviation for the pandemic-induced isolation – which reputedly causes people all sorts of stress.
Linking to Writers' Pantry #46 at Poets and Storytellers United, where Rommy is playing catch-up. So I'm catching you up with the last of my October poems here.
I hope your friend's soul is at rest. I hope there wasn't much suffering before the end. I hope more of the world understand the reality of this pandemic before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteThe one about the hearing aids made me laugh. Mostly because my masks always pulls my AirPods. I wonder how many people have lost hearing aids and Bluetooth devices.
My friend lived in America. She spent her life in a wheel chair and with full time carers due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy. But she was adventurous; travelled a lot, including to Australia, did daring things like sky-diving, and ran her own editing business. She was careful because of the virus, but accompanied a carer to visit a relative with cancer; otherwise the carer could not have gone. But it turned out the relative had COVID too! As far as I know she didn't suffer much; it was apparently very quick. She must have been in her mid-fifties.
Delete2020 has been a completely different way of living for so many people. Slowly we are coming back to normal in Australia and I am so glad the rules and restrictions imposed in the early days of the Covid crisis have been so successful. Let's hope more countries will soon be able to bring it under control too.
ReplyDeleteYes – though no-one has had it easy, I think we can be grateful to our Governments, both Federal and State, that it wasn't a lot worse. I shudder to imagine what it must be like living in some (many) other countries.
DeleteI like the ambiguity in the title, Rosemary, seeing as your stanzas are short, we can get a bit ‘short’ when talking about the virus, and it shortens lives - I wish it was short-lived. I wondered if there was a new Aussie abbreviation, if it might be ‘pando’, but ‘iso’ sounds right! I’m so sorry to read about your friend. We’ve lost a few too, and members of my husband’s family have had covid (I’m refusing to give it a capital letter, which makes it sound like a dignitary!). Why do masks have ear loops, which are all too big for me and I have to make knots in them – why can’t we tie them round the back of the head?
ReplyDeleteYes, 'iso' is for the isolation which, for many of us here, has been the great distinguishing feature of this time. I haven't heard of any abbreviations for the pandemic itself. We mostly just say COVID, or 'the virus' (as if there has only ever been one kind).
DeleteI've learned that big earrings and mask wearing don't go together, or at least not easily. I am so sorry about your friend. We've had a few friends who have had brushes with 'rona, some who have even done hospital time. My uncle in Peru is currently recovering from it. I hope some sanity takes hold here in the US, but it will probably take another lockdown to get things under control.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beast of a thing all right. Come out of lockdown too soon and a new wave might get ya. As we have been discovering here.
DeleteIt's a sad thing when the best thing you can say is, "I'm glad your friend didn't suffer for very long."
ReplyDeleteNice snapshots, R.
Nevertheless it is a thing to be glad of, considering. Most people who get it describe horrendous suffering. And to go in her sleep like that must be a blessing ... if she had to go at all.
DeleteYes. Still, sorry...
DeleteThank you.
DeleteWe didn't do Halloween this year, but we've been washing more groceries than usual. I feel as if these are whispers that slide under the door, the way 2020 gradually makes everything more friable until only the short verses connect. I'm sorry for your loss. :(
ReplyDeleteHalloween didn't happen in our town either as far as I could see. I doubt if it did anywhere, with all our restrictions on gatherings etc. I was just imagining how it might be if it did. The others are factual.
DeleteI'm imagining adjusting my mask ear loops as I read. I especially like the trick or treat line. Lots of poetry coming out of these times, I imagine
ReplyDeleteThere is a whole facebook group for pandemic haiku!
DeleteSo sorry about your friend. Like you had been, I don't personally know anyone with the virus, but I have two friends in care homes I worry about because of the high incidence of Covid in such homes. I loved your short snips of truth and humor! My main problem with the mask is as soon as I put it on my nose starts to itch!
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's the glasses fogging up!
DeleteI am so sorry for the loss of a friend. I only know one person who had it, and was very sick. This was in early March, when they didn't know much. His anti-bodies are now gone, so, yes, we can get it again. I don't think it becomes read to a lot of people until they know someone who tests positive. It just seems so easily transmitted.
ReplyDeleteYes, much too easily. It's worth taking good care.
DeleteI am so sorry for your loss. Must say masks can be a royal pain and I sympathize regarding hearing aids and ear loops. My son wears aids, we are getting very adept at “alterations.”
ReplyDeletePlease stay safe, and well.
I had the scarf thing well worked out. Long scarf folded to three thicknesses, wound twice around neck with ends in front so it could be pulled up and tight easily and be both protective and comfortable. Then they said it must be masks only. On the other hand, we have had no cases in our town at all yet, many restrictions have eased now, and masks (here) are optional.
DeleteThese pieces are so bang-on Rosemary. So far, I know 6 people who have had COVID, One of them (who caught it back in April) is still having breathing issues ... still following up with tests ... still working modified hours because of weakness ... with no assurances that she will ever get back to where she was pre-COVID. As much as I pray for the day, that we are on the other side of this scourge and things are back to the way they were ... I know that - for many of us - that day will never, truly, come.
ReplyDeleteI am just hoping that some of the changes will be for the better , and lasting. A lot of people here are saying they are glad to have slowed down and to realise how mindlessly frantic they were before.
DeleteCondolences on the loss of your friend Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteAnd "iso' is new to me thanks for the footnote
Happy you dropped by my blog
Much💝love
Thanks, Gillena.
DeleteCondolences for the loss of your friend....
ReplyDeleteThank you. Still seems unbelievable.
DeleteThe short form of each of these works well. Each one is like a punch. I find the second-to-last one the most vivid.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm glad to know they are working like that.
DeleteI'm so sorry about your friend. I know this problem has gotten completely out of control
ReplyDeleteWe seem to be getting it under control here in Australia. But this friend lived in America. She must have underestimated the particular risk she took.
Delete