Believed Protection

There is an enemy too small to see with the naked eye. The 1600’s, the 2000’s, years before and between – Have seen its result. Waves of death and destruction. And with each comes a new form of believed protection. When medicine was young, people had a never ending supply – Of ointments guaranteed to heal. When all they needed was to be clean. During the Black Death, they listened to the Plague Doctor’s instruction. But those doctors with their long hooked masks never made the right connection. Lack of knowledge makes us weak and we blame those on high. But with time (and a substantial increase in hygiene), It was realized that death can have a reduction. So the Plague masks were put away into a collection. Time passes, danger grows as connections between people magnify. Problems arise from encroachment, from birds, from swine. And with it all comes success and of pride, overproduction. Thus, in the modern time we failed at detection. It crept up so quickly and suddenly the world was awry. Schools canceled, goodbyes missed, as all pretend to be fine. The more we learn the more is added to the instruction. But with all doing what they can we will again decrease the infection. Written 24 July 2020 Written for 10-20 lines on MASK Poetry Contest Sponsored by Mohan Chutani