Lucie Barrios
It’s Only Monday
We are posting our goodbyes
And writing eulogies to those with feeble breath in their lungs
And begging, pray
Begging, light a candle
The masks squeeze so tight they leave scars
On the faces
Of blue plastic alien angels
Behind closed doors
The children are opening their schoolbooks at home
Their parents struggling
To explain
Calculate how far behind on rent we are
Ponder whether Mommy’s getting her job back
Write a persuasive letter to her boss
Wash your hands when you get up in the morning
Wash your hands before you go to bed at night
Sneeze into your elbow
Stay at home
Shut the door
Laugh until you cry
Really cry
Count your blessings
And pray that death passes over
—Submitted on 03/24/2020
Lucie Barrios holds a BA from Webster University in St. Louis, where she majored in English.
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