Social Distancing

Howard A. Chang

COVID-19.

There will be no more

Wisdom, integrity, and compassion

Among us, and only through

Self-centeredness

We will overcome this

Calamity

We are eager to end our

Responsibilities to one another

We have

Our own needs to fulfill

We are looking beyond the fact that we have

People who are dying

Families who are hurting

Neighbors who are lacking

Friends who are crying

So I choose to consider

My freedom

Is more urgent than

Your safety

And I tell you

Fend for yourself

May you never need to

Ask for my help

We are in this together

What a lie!

COVID-19 turns us all inward.

*Poet's Statement: This is a reverse poem, meant to be read first in the forward direction (top-to-bottom), then in the reverse direction (bottom-to-top).

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