I have been very much affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The start of the pandemic was very frightening for me. I’m still in shock and have not yet completely processed the whole matter. But I discovered that writing poetry has had such a healing effect on me during the most challenging time of my life. Not only did I write couplets and poems about the pandemic, I also wrote poems about other experiences that I needed to process. I am still writing my poems, and I have no idea how to explain what a very liberating experience this has been for me. I will never give up writing poetry, even after the pandemic is over. I hope it ends soon, but until then, and after then, I will be writing poetry. I’ve found that it just might get me through anything, even COVID-19.
The following are couplets I’ve written about my experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each pair of lines is to be taken separately from the rest. They do not have titles.
You start with a fever, a dry cough, and difficulty breathing
Then your lungs fill and you drown
Masks are required to be snug around the nose
This damn pandemic makes it near impossible for us to even smell a rose
I’m making the era of COVID-19 work for me
Because what I’m doing now to make myself happy is setting me free
This coronavirus situation is too horrible to not have a purpose
Being in the arms of the man I love and writing poetry is making it all worth it
We should really give the politicians money for their campaigns
They’ve promised to get rid of COVID-19!
Submitted by Caro V., Contra Costa County – Clayton.