Page 99 - North Star Magazine 2022

That’s what it is
Corona by any other name Would still be a plague
You were
Coldly calculating
While
touching Lady Liberty and
hugging the Empire state.
Coldly calculating
What’s in a word?
What’s in a name?
Cuz if you called corona
By any other name
Wouldn’t it still be a plague?
Wouldn’t it still rock our grandparents into the arms of the grim reaper? Wouldn’t it still keep our doctors exhausted?
Wouldn’t it still keep our nurses as busy as bumblebees?
Would it not still keep us:
Still a couple of ventilators short of breath?
Still keep us indoors
Still keep us in our corners,
scrambling for hope in the darkness near our mountains of teepees and canned goods.
Would it not still steal:
Our screams at concerts
Our smiles at parades
Our awe at museums full of the past Our learning with our professors Our antics at parties