Tuesday, December 13, 2022

A Room of My Own: Tridemic Tanka

Three Hundred and Fifty-Sixth Entry, Coronavirus Poetry Diary

a mother watches
her motionless baby
in the waiting room…
condensation turns to ice
as this tridemic surges

FYI: The"tridemic" is the combination of three respiratory virals, Flu, coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2),  and RSV, that have  overwhelmed North American health care systems for weeks. However, to the best of my knowledge, there is no public health measure, such as mask mandate, legally required (not recommended) in indoor spaces across all major cities in North America. 


Added: This Brave New World, LXIV
written in response to Republican Governor Doug Ducey's end-of-term, 97-million-dollars gift to his beloved "Land of the Free"

mile after mile
of stacked shipping containers 
topped by razor wire
under the desert sun
this Border Wall of Hate | Fear

FYI: The Guardian, Dec. 11: Arizona governor builds border wall of shipping crates in final days of office

The rusting hulks, topped with razor wire and with bits of metal jammed into gaps, stretch for more than three miles through Coronado national forest land, south of Tucson, and the governor has announced plans to extend that up to 10 miles, at a cost of $95m (£78m).

The area, with mountain ranges rising abruptly from the desert and a diverse environment of plants and animals, is federal land maintained by the US Forest Service.

As a barrier for humans, the double-stacked boxes are not much of an obstacle, but they are an existential threat to endangered migratory species, especially jaguars and ocelots, as well as being an eyesore.


Added:

thunderclouds
the President's shadow 
on the border wall

FYIEconomist, Oct. 4 2022The Biden administration is quietly completing bits of Donald Trump’s wall

On the campaign trail, Joe Biden pledged he would build “not another foot” of border wall as president. But in the face of record numbers of migrants arriving at America’s southern border with Mexico, he has quietly reversed course, agreeing to fill in some glaring gaps that were left when he abruptly halted construction on his first day in office. 

And NBC News, Jan.8Biden makes first trip as president to U.S.-Mexico border as administration imposes restrictions: The trip comes amid repeated Republican criticism of the president for not traveling to the southern border sooner and of what they say are his administration’s ineffective policies.


Added:

a crumpled shopping list
on the grocery store floor ...
yellow price tags


Added:

red and green smoke wafting
above the town square's giant screen ...
the ball toward a goal

FYI: Fox Sports, Dec. 15: France shatter football fairytale as mouthwatering World Cup final locked in

The European heavyweights got off to a perfect start with a Theo Hernandez goal in 4 minutes and 39 seconds - the earliest in a semi-final since Brazil in 1958.

Despite being decimated by injuries, Morocco fought back gamely and threatened the world champions time and again, with both sides striking the post in the first half.

Far from being overawed by the occassion or bowed by the early deficit, Morocco continued to push forward in the second period and had the reigning champions under siege for extended periods, only for France to seal victory with a goal from substitute Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th minute.

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