DON'T BREATHE

disease. death, reality

My nose tickles

eyes itch

a sense of a fly

creeps along my forehead

my lashes stick

I stop mid-air

to calm my annoyances

restrain my hands

away from my face

I am told  to do so

scrub them tough

myriad times a day

Shelter myself and others

experts say

from this worldwide plague virus

kills us in a flash

without our kin beside us

like a shoot-out and death to the chest

our lungs refuel with gooey liquid

breaths labor

the machine deserts us

we die

deliver the breather on to the next awaiting victim

and so it goes.....

 

Reviews

[MOON]

Surreal and scary times , the world in lockdown, who would have thought, the horror..Poignant write.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Betty... the grim reaper is at our doorstep.
No one is safe. However, on this Easter morning,
let us rejoice in the beauty of friends and the light
that shines through the stained glass windows of Life.
May your day be graced with flowers in bloom and
prayers for the World to gather the wounded and
hope for a better day. truly, Pat

[Betty Hermelee]

What a nice message Pat!

[Patricia Wedel]

Hi Betty... let us hope that this pandemic does not cause the USA to be a third world country, because we are spending so much to avoid people working together and spreading this Virus. May God in his infinite mercy keep us safe and healthy so we can prosper and provide our families and future generations a beautiful World to enjoy and raise their family. This is our Prayer during this Easter season. truly, Pat

[alanwgraham]

Your poem perfectly describes these horrid times we are embarking on. Oh that unscratchable itch! And then the end undignified and bereft of farewells. At least now we have the benefit of modern medicine and science to give some hope.
There are doubtless testing times Betty ahead but all things pass!
Look after yourself. (of course this means thinking about others - we are all in this together!)
Take care,
Alan

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks Alan, I just felt compelled to write this now, as all of us are going through our experiences with this deadly virus. Thanks for commenting!

[Chris Shaw]

The cycle of what life has become for those that succumb to this monster, for that is what it is. It is all of the nightmares I had as, a child and Dad used to tell me that they aren't real. This one is. Really scary times ahead Betty. Your lines bring out the fear in all of us.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

It is pretty scary! my granddaughter as a nurse in NYC! Thanks for reading!

[Chris Shaw]

We have nurses in our family too. So worrying Betty. Take care.

[Gee]

It's amazing how badly prepared the world was/is for this vital infection that is at present blighting mankind.
I tip.my hat to your grand daughter and all health care professionals.
Good morning

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for the comment!!!

[Lea Sheryn]

How appropriate for the times we are living in. Thank you for sharing, Betty.

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes, it's on my mind all the time, as my granddaughter is a nurse in NYC!!! Thanks!

[Lea Sheryn]

I can understand. The medical staff who are dealing with this on a day to day basis are brave indeed.

[barleygirl]

To be honest, I have not been putting much store into the extreme drama circulating these days until I saw the report of what a bad week it's been for virus-sufferers around the world (the numbers are now staggering). Your poem must be how most people look at this virus, becuz I haven't been feeling the dread or fear or even a light concern about catching this. Your poem feels a little bit like a spoof on the alarmists since it's exaggerated (love your descriptions) & nicely tongue-in-cheek (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Betty Hermelee]

we have huge inadequacies at this moment in our ability to supply our front-liners with medical equipment; my granddaughter is a nurse at Sloane Kettering hospital in Manhattan; so I am learning first hand how stressed out she is, and how many patients simply die on her watch every day! my poem is dark sarcasm and that's how I feel about the world crisis right now, not knowing when it will end. Fondly, Betty

[barleygirl]

Thanks for that dreary share . . . helps bring the crisis into clear focus! I can't imagine how that would feel!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is like meeting the virus at the O.K. Corral and being one who did not survive it.
But those who did, need to wash their hands, clean their guns...and breathe in a different direction from others.
and damn that fly....i want to swat it, but i feel like Norman Bates at the end of psycho--"I wouldn't even hurt that fly"---
but this virus is psycho and we just have to be so careful of it.
really good poem, Betty.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks Jacob; I really feel for those on the front line, like my granddaughter, who is a nurse! And The staggering numbers of those who die; she sees it first hand several times a day! Thanks for the comment, Best, Betty

[genocide]

Very good poem about the chronoa virus so many people dying and the president not giving to much hope to the situation

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you so much, felt obligated to write about it