As the world decays beneath us,
I wonder sorrowfully,
How many will be here tomorrow?
And will one of them be me?
The ground has opened wide,
Threatening to swallow us all,
As devil’s in humans’ clothes,
Neighborly push, to help us fall.
I have not prayed for many years,
And it may just be absurd,
But I find myself wanting to,
Even if it won’t be heard.
I fear that the demons are real,
And all the good angels have gone.
Now all we have is one another,
And little ground to stand upon.
For I am but a mortal child,
Yet, I wonder anyway,
How many will be here tomorrow?
…I better write this today.
K. Aldaya, 9/13/21
Picture 1: By Fakurian Design on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/1r0TPtmhEZA
Picture 2: By National Cancer Institute on Unsplash; https://unsplash.com/photos/701-FJcjLAQ
Picture 3: From ABC News: Michael Franchi; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-09/mining-camp-designers-plan-covid-19-quarantine-hub-in-wa/100119364
Picture 4: From CNN (VCG via Getty Images); https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/covid-china-quarantine-camp-hebei-b1790210.html
Picture 5: Posted by Jim Davidson on Twitter; https://twitter.com/planetaryjim/status/1298645415831777280