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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Date: 5/12/2020 5:23:00 PM
hello Micheal Burch so niece to meet you. You said it very well. Enjoy your evening my friend.
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Michael Burch
Date: 5/12/2020 8:21:00 PM
Thanks Darlene. You have a very poetic name!
Date: 5/12/2020 1:58:00 PM
This plague takes no prisoners, very well penned Michael, congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
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Michael Burch
Date: 5/12/2020 2:27:00 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.
Date: 5/12/2020 11:50:00 AM
Nice write Michael.
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Michael Burch
Date: 5/12/2020 1:14:00 PM
Thanks James. The poem was one of the winners in the COVID poetry competition, so the judges must have liked it too.
Date: 5/12/2020 10:29:00 AM
Congratulations Michael on your win in this highly competitive contest. Love the use of your repeating prayer at the end of each stanza.
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Michael Burch
Date: 5/12/2020 1:15:00 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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