Disease

I'd like to dedicate this piece to anyone and everyone affected by this pandemic. As invoked in the poem, I'd like to empower you to read John Donne's Death, Be Not Proud sonnet. As a beautifully defiant piece, I found a lot of inspiration in it's rebuke of death personified. We are stronger. Stay safe everyone:

What is this putrid and

vile creature

rapping at my door?

In mangles, borne-

stricken with

a sore decay.

festered arms reaching

thin as blades in winter-

pocked skin draped.

Clawing at gowns

and masks

to no avail.

From such weakened stature

upon the floor

sprawled and lying.

Were ever you proud?

Are you of what John Donne

spoke when he boasted

“Death, be not...”?

Tubes tethered slack

Keep thous poison

from thy veins.

And dance on-

Lo! The broken glory;

rapping still in pain.