A Litany In Time of Plague

Update of "A Litany in Time of Plague" 
by Michael R. Burch

THE PLAGUE has come again
To darken lives of men
and women, girls and boys;
Death proves their bodies toys
Too frail to even cry.
I am sick, I must die.
    Lord, have mercy on us!

Tycoons, what use is wealth?
You cannot buy good health!
Physicians cannot heal
Themselves, to Death must kneel.
Nuns’ prayers mount to the sky.
I am sick, I must die.
    Lord, have mercy on us!

Beauty’s brightest flower?
Devoured in an hour.
Kings, Queens and Presidents
Are fearful residents
Of manors boarded high.
I am sick, I must die.
    Lord, have mercy on us!

We have no means to save
Our children from the grave.
Though cure-alls line our shelves,
We cannot save ourselves. 
"Come, come!" the sad bells cry.
I am sick, I must die.
    Lord, have mercy on us!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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De Beaulieu Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 5:23 PM
hello Micheal Burch so niece to meet you. You said it very well. Enjoy your evening my friend.
Burch Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 8:21 PM
Thanks Darlene. You have a very poetic name!
Allison Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 1:58 PM
This plague takes no prisoners, very well penned Michael, congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
Burch Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Thanks, Jan. I remembered the medieval plague poem and thought it was time for an update. Hopefully modern science will figure this one out soon.
Inman Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 11:50 AM
Nice write Michael.
Burch Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 1:14 PM
Thanks James. The poem was one of the winners in the COVID poetry competition, so the judges must have liked it too.
Kauffman Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 10:29 AM
Congratulations Michael on your win in this highly competitive contest. Love the use of your repeating prayer at the end of each stanza.
Burch Avatar
May 12, 2020 at 1:15 PM
Thanks, Sam, i'm glad you liked the poem. It's modeled after a medieval plague poem, so I can't claim credit for the refrain. :)
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