WHAT I LOST

Our last point of call was the bar
Which scrapped many a scar
And relieved us from stress
Borne out of work duress
Through jokes and stories
Listening to ladies’ sorries
…as they tripped and balanced their heels
Now the bars are closed and so have our socialization
…planting depression told by even our expressions
This is how hard Corona has hit us

II
We’ve turned monsters in each other’s eyes
With fears of scares of what runs in blood
…waiting to attack
We’ve turned prison wardens
…imprisoning ourselves in a mock word transformation
…called confinement
Hoping to level a curve many know not
While hunger chases with a more brutal force
Where do we hide?
Inside monsters bark in promise of bites
Outside monsters bite to feed its poison
I wish there was an option third
To hide us from despair
But even “buts” sound like infected bats
Scary and haunting
This is how hard Corona has hit us

III
Salivas now have walls
Sweats on hands now have socks
Even heads now have full shields
In heat, we face the defeat of body boiling
This is how hard Corona has hit us
And we aim to mark its dark
In the sands of history
That is, if we find ourselves in utter victory
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © May 8, 2020