Summary

The web content is a poem titled "Pandemic, 2020" by Jenny Justice, reflecting on the societal and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the intersection of public health, economics, and politics.

Abstract

"Pandemic, 2020" is a poignant poem that captures the essence of the global health crisis amidst an election year, highlighting the challenges posed by neoliberal corporate capitalists prioritizing profit over people. It underscores the vulnerability of public health in the face of economic interests, the stealthy nature of the virus's transmission, and the collective anxiety surrounding its unpredictability. The poem also touches on the societal shift towards embracing introversion and the validation of personal space as life-saving measures. It criticizes the ageist and ableist attitudes prevalent in the media and the broader societal response to the pandemic, while emphasizing the importance of science, wisdom, and community solidarity in the face of adversity.

Opinions

The author expresses a critical view of neoliberal corporate capitalists, suggesting they are complicit in exacerbating the pandemic's impact by focusing on profit rather than public health.
There is a sense of irony in the poem regarding the lack of testing and preparedness, implying that the failure to organize testing is due to it not being seen as profitable.
The poem conveys a frustration with the news media for downplaying the severity of the pandemic and for perpetuating ageist and ableist narratives.
It reflects on the selfishness and shortsightedness of those who ignore the risks of the pandemic for personal gain or pleasure, such as traveling during the outbreak.
The author acknowledges the terrifying potential of the virus, which is compounded by a perceived lack of collective action and reliance on individual resources to get through the crisis.
There is an underlying appreciation for the concept of social distancing, recognizing its life-saving importance and the readiness of many to adapt to this new way of life.
The poem suggests that the pandemic has inadvertently validated the lifestyle choices of introverts and those who prefer staying at home.
It criticizes the societal systems that would seek to profit from the pandemic, highlighting the exhaustion and resignation felt by the public in the face of such exploitation.

Pandemic, 2020

A Poem

Exhaustion is A pandemic in an election year

Exhaustion is A pandemic in an election year under the rule of neoliberal

Corporate capitalists who are also fascists and who Think only of profit not of people

Public health is not a rich man’s game But in this I pray they are not immune

Golden toilets and ivory palaces Will not protect the trickle up

Effect of this contagion That can live in the air

The air For hours

That can stay alive on surfaces for Days

That we are not testing for because again, it is not Profitable to just organize means to test

For this crown no one wants to wear We wait it out knowing that

Science is real That other nations exist

That wisdom is important And that right now

It could be right here next to us Undetected as it lives in people for 15 days or so

Before showing up Giving it time to take root in new bodies

Giving it time to blow up the Scene

Each cough an explosion Each breath a gift, still, always but

With maybe a surprise inside We wait it out as we are forced to do

Making the call for ourselves based upon What we have

Hoping the basics are enough To get us by and get us through

Grateful for any efforts at this thing Called social distance

This thing that has introvert written all over it This thing that so many have been ready for

Even before pandemics hit We have stocked up on

The wish of being able to Be home

Do what we do best Netflix, couch, blanket, text

We have always known we were wise, but To be validated as life saving is nice

The news in all other ways is Decidedly not helpful

To be told that only the old Will die is no great consolation

When many of us are old or like old people And when many of us like or are those

Other kinds of people — the ones with the Immunity issues, the ones we are supposed to

Dismiss and be grateful for that at least it’s Not me young youthful healthy let’s travel to Venice

While it’s cheap mentality Selfishness is showing and we are all too exhausted

For call out culture now Just knowing this thing could be 10 times or more times

Deadlier than the flu is Terrifies —

And yet we take it lightly here We wait, we don’t grumble, we know

We are on our own it it, this system would find a way To profit off our our bones

If only it weren’t so much work to get to them.

Jenny Justice, Poet. Author of Love in the Time of Climate Change and Reveal. You can read more of her poetry at Justice Poetic. Sign up for her newsletter here.

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