May 5, 2021
By RomsDMD
50 days and a year into the pandemic
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XI
Barely a couple of months and a year had passed and what?
The pandemic seem still unstoppable, the coronovirus has mutated into several variants!;
The entire world gravely affected, more than a hundred million afflicted and more than a million deaths, but —
What's more troubling are the sudden surges, caused by variants which resulted to human variance!
XII
Vaccines are now available — it's something new — but it seems, vaccine jabs will be part of a routine new normal,
Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford-Astra Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Sputnik, Sinopharm and Sinovac are the pharmaceutical giants that emerged;
The most powerful country who was tested under fire for being the top on the list with over 30 million afflicted and half a million deaths, which others think could only happen among countries whose primal,
Had once again bouced back and proved their strengrh, all 'coz a new able leader surfaced and engaged.
XIII
What's happening in India is grimly appalling and incomprehensible,
Is it fate or just failed leadership among innocent (ignorantly gullible) followers? —
But it clearly boils down on good leadership and political will without politicking,
What the world needs now are leaders with empathy and science-based strategy..
XIV
Notice the rhymes on the previous stanza weren't there? I guess not —
'Coz what matters at this point in time is not aesthetic façade, but —
Action and compassion, authentic humanity that's timely,
Not politics and charade that produce blunder that's untimely!
XV
Our nation has met another surge — yes a surge not a wave, 'coz we haven't actually flattened the curve yet,
Unfortunately the same incompetent individuals lead our fight against the enemy;
The one who dropped the ball, and a military man who's not learned in medicine —
it's what i don't get,
A lawyer turned media relations person who insists we're excellent yet
Got infected, what bothers everyone is his hospital connections and money,
XVI
Airports are not strictly on lockdown, it's why deadlier variants found its way in our border,
Another ECQ was placed but not seriously implemented nor monitored;
Citizens are hungry and jobless, the government has nothing more to offer,
Community pantry has emerged, trust in humanity restored.
XVII
Vaccine roll out have started, but not enough even for the A1 — the medical front liners,
Those labeled as A2 seniors and A3 with comorbidities queued for hours;
Government and private medical teams joined forces for the jab, but the predicament lies with the supplies (or suppliers?)
Some idiots started a campaign for compassionate use of a drug that's meant for worms!
XVIII
Numbers don't lie, but sometimes manipulated numbers can deceive,
The economic team pushed for businesses to open — salons, theatres and al fresco, albeit border control not strictly controlled;
We simply can't go back to the old norm,
Statistics matters, lives matter, at the rate the inoculation are going and vaccines we receive —
We will reach herd immunity in ten years or more, unless the next regime will be cunning and bold!
XIX
On a worldwide scale, India is next on the list — with over 300 thousand people infected daily,
This unfortunate event started amidst the Khumbmela and when a dumb minister running for office took off his mask;
Politicking, uncontrolled religious gathering — poor leadership often victimize gullible people who are hungry,
Now, poorest of the poor are finding it hard to get ,Oxygen more so hospital care, triple of thousands dying, a mass make shift crematorium lay the dead on their bask.
XX
Integrity and authentic leadership should be the heart of a country — like Israel who achieved its herd immunity in barely 4 months,
Proactive leaders, emphatic individuals and people who look at the numbers and science for action not emotions;
Self-quarantine and self-discipline is the key, if no available vaccine for everyone,
We have only ourselves and the "new normal" minimum health standards to depend on.
