523. Put on the Mask

“Put on the mask!

It’s okay if it’s hard.

You’ll learn to love pain.

Death by suicide’s better,

Than a virus strain!

Put on the mask!

No one cares if you die,

Unless it is Covid,

Then, “It’s tragic!”, they cry.

Put on the mask!

It’s not a right to breathe.

If we want you to suffer…

You’ll go along…..Put it on!

Comply: “Yes, Sir!”

Put on the mask!

So death can not find you.”

(Though no one can offer such a guarantee)

Yet, with the states hands o’er your face,

It makes it hard to see,

All the people dying, internally.

K. Aldaya, 8/4/20

Picture: By Tai’s Captures on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/Lhb-zwQ-QGI

363. Duplicity

Said with painfully deceptive truth,

You fain warmth to perfection.

You lay your coat o’er the mud of inflection,

And savor the words in proof,

Of your humanity.

Gallantly you stand your ground,

Enticing the virtuous of heart,

To firstly step forth and depart,

Wrapping their honor around…

Your covetous finger.

Wringing your hands you step out,

Upon decency’s palpable spine,

And crush the bones of affection in line.

Expectation of reciprocity beyond doubt,

Cloaks the duplicitous heart.

K. Aldaya, 8/29/16