At first, I thought, at last.
Albeit it is a virus,
Something has united the divided,
Just when I thought nothing could.
We isolated, but coalesced,
Our common threat
An uncommon virus.
But now,
This fellowship's disconnected,
Comrades now enemies.
Some scream, "Open!"
Some scream, "Close!"
Some at blows as anger grows.
My hope's now despair,
With neighbors not aligned . . .
Not kind.
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Author Notes
This particular version of Ben Franklin's political cartoon appeared in the Washington Post.
This is not a typical free style poem. I think it's actually my first, and I know it is lacking in the beautiful images that I enjoy in freestyle poetry. Nevertheless, someone insulted me at the grocery store today simply because I was wearing a mask. I did nothing to bother this man. The store was almost empty, and he just needed to lash out. Then, I needed to write this poem and post it quickly before my anger subsided.
I know you are wondering. The man basically said, "It's a good thing you are wearing a mask because I have HIV, too." Now who does that? And, why? If you do not see the insult here, it's because you did not see the man's unmasked sneer.
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