Whoops, today was unusually busy and I almost didn’t make it here to post, but here it is just under the wire, Pandemic poem # 18, which really just makes me want to binge 80s and 90s cartoons . . .
(Reading tip: if you are reading this on your phone screen, turning the screen sideways will result in a correct placement of each line; otherwise, they are broken up in unusual and not especially poetic fashion.)
A Note to My Fellow Gen -X/ennials
(Nothing New Under the Sun)
If you could go back, you of a certain age
(You OG Voltron and Transformers and He-Man
And She-Ra and My Little Pony and G.I. Joe watchers)
And tell young-you: well yes, you’ve lived through
Two gulf wars, 9-11, but now you could
Die from a virus our government knew about
But didn’t respond to until it was too late
To do much besides damage control and blame-shifting—
would you really be surprised, children
Of the children of the Cold War?
Originally written 4/7/2020)
I invite those who are also writing creatively in response to the pandemic to share their words in the comments below. I am sharing the “poem-a-day” on Instagram and Twitter, as well; follow me @mridleyelmes !
Melissa Ridley Elmes 