Ten Pandemic Haiku

Warm June afternoon The mirror I stare into Shows my coldest fear In the summer air Dancing molecules of sweat Await a new home Its spikes like arrows Our cells a shield of tissue Waiting to be torn Too little, too much Sacs deflate while cells rush in To stave infection Thousands cram the tent Muttering, howling voices Spewing contagion Donning faded scrubs She thinks about her children Which is more humane? Without joy or hope We lock ourselves in shelters Living for TV Dark and boarded up Once a bright and bustling space Now a silent shell Connected by bits Books and pictures framing us We come together Distant memories… A hug between two comrades Hearts embrace as one