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Spooked

"Another 150 Illinoisans have lost their lives in the last 24 hours
   May each of their memories be for a blessing
2,240 residents have tested positive for the virus
   Another 365 new hospitalizations were recorded
      730 people are on ventilators...

"These are real people, who have and had real lives
   So, the virus is out there.  It is among us
      Stay inside your homes.  Please!
         Only go out for essential trips...

"Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly
   for at least 30 seconds, with soap
whenever you touch exposed skin or a foreign object
   Multiple hand-washing is the message here...

"And wearing a mask at all times out-of-doors
   is key in mitigating the virus 
      I just can't stress that enough
Don't forget social distancing either
   Stay at least six feet away from the person
       with whom you are interacting...

"I'm the last person in the world who wants these restrictions
   I'd like to open up the state as much as you would
      Yet the the statistics don't lie.  And though 
          we're flattening the curve
             the virus is still out there  
                It is among us..."

I could give the daily speech by heart myself
   Thank you, Governor Pritzker, for spooking me
and so many other law-abiding Illinoisans who have
   been foolish enough to buy into your extended lockdown
For which you had no legal authority, whatsoever --
                Bully!

And which, by the way, didn't apply to your family
   Your wife and kids hopped on a plane and flew to Florida
       to your tawny vacation home --- 
          Stay at home, my foot! --- 
              Hypocrite!

I hate going outside with my mask and gloves
   I hate going shopping or to the pharmacy
      I hate going for a walk in the park
          It's all on you, Mr. Pritzker
                May you reap
             What you've sown...

      And after the next election
        May your memory be for a blessing

Copyright © Gershon Wolf | Year Posted 2020

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Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/13/2020 7:51:00 PM WHO (in contradiction to CDC) says masks are best only worn by caretakers of the sick. I am for "herd immunity" and let the sick take their precautions. I will admit a comfort though in seeing food handlers wearing the masks! Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 6/13/2020 10:44:00 PM Isn't it great when the 'science' behind all of this can't come to the same conclusion about something so simple as a mask... As a born conservative, I ask: "Well, what if WHO is wrong and CDC is right, so I wear the mask." But I certainly don't expect younger, healthier people to all do so!! Thanks again, Andrea. Peace and Joy, Gershon

Andrea Dietrich Date: 6/13/2020 7:49:00 PM Gershon, a seed for thought: What if the lies are coming from the media and from exaggerated numbers? What if treatments being given are not appropriate ones and what if our leaders had treated this like any other flu epidemic and did not start a crisis to put us into panic and more stress due to a global shutdown of the economy. Well, you can see I have a different point of view, but i respect your freedom to disagree. Thanks for your lovely comment on my poem a while back. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 6/13/2020 10:42:00 PM I guess I didn't come through as 'loudly and clearly' as I had intended to here. Actually, I have the same concerns as you. With hypocritical bullies like Pritzker, who wants to tax Illinoisans to death and make them wards of the government, who knows how many statistics are altered? As well, who can trust hospital reporting? At any rate, I'm not saying that we can't disagree on some things, but here I think 'We are One,' to use the phrase. Thank you so much for you comments and support, Andrea! Much appreciated. Warmest wishes, Gershon

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 6/13/2020 6:01:00 PM I agree, everyone needs to wear a mask. No one enjoys wearing them. I feel for those workers who deal with the public who are stuck in their masks all day long. I would imagine they will burn them when this is over. We have doctor visits and shop for food otherwise we stay at home and garden and I write poetry while my husband enjoys trying to keep up with the plummeting stock market. Excellent advice in your poem Gershon. xxoo Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 6/13/2020 10:57:00 PM Thanks, Connie. Sounds semi-idyllic, actually, your life these days... As for us, my wife works from home on her computer, and I write poems and Talmudic gematria articles. Hope to publish some day not too far away... We are lucky we have it so easy... Cheers, Gershon

Kim Rodrigues Date: 6/13/2020 6:29:00 AM All I can say is that 2020 has not been a favorite year. Still there are blessings all around. Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 6/13/2020 10:54:00 PM Yes, there are blessings. (Achoo!) -- God bless you! (But NOT with Covid-19). Cheers, Gershon

Tom Cunningham Date: 6/12/2020 8:15:00 PM There will be questions to be answered when we get out of this pandemic. The rules should apply to all especially those that implement those measures. Tom Login to Reply Gershon Wolf Date: 6/13/2020 10:46:00 PM Methinks, the questions need to be asked -- and answered --now, when it matters. Pritzker's response to questions about his family flying to Florida? -- "Don't inject my family into this!" How's that for hypocrisy?! At any rate, let us carry on despite these buffoons, and Take care, Gershon