What Rough Beast | Covid-19 Edition | 04 30 20 | Lucie Barrios

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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